Overview

Alma Richards, as an unsung high school student, surprisingly set an Olympic record for the high jump in the 1912 Stockholm Olympics. He was the only native Utahn and member of the LDS church to win an Olympic gold medal in the twentieth century. After a stellar collegiate track career that saw him lead Cornell to three national championships, Richards for two decades reigned as America’s most accomplished multiple-event track and field athlete, winning national titles in five different events. Despite his prominence in the history of American sports, this is the first treatment of his athletic career and personal life. More than a century has passed since Alma Richards won an Olympic gold medal, yet this story about man and sport—the drive to excel, victory as validation of hard work, the quest for public recognition and, ultimately, the achievement of self-identity and self-satisfaction—still resonates today.

Full Product Details

9781607814917

Table of Contents

Reviews

Gerlach's well-sourced and well-reasoned arguments and commentary add nuance and critical analysis to the story, offering a break from straightforward narrative and allowing critical glimpses into both the athlete and his world. -David J. Lunt, assistant professor of history, Southern Utah University Gerlach seeks to separate fact from fiction, and myth from reality, to discover a gifted athlete whose story we thought we knew but didn't. Richards's life-which is full of triumphs and tragedies, successes and failure-provides any interested reader with an important lens to view a number of topics. -John Sillito, professor emeritus of libraries, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah

Author Information

Larry Gerlach is professor emeritus of history at the University of Utah, USA. His numerous books and articles include Blazing Crosses in Zion: The Ku Klux Klan in Utah and The Men in Blue: Conversations With Umpires.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available