Overview

Presents a vibrant and readable account of the modern Olympics with particular reference to British involvement and success. Each Games is described, and every one of the 491 British gold medallists is named. For a small country Britain has had a remarkable impact on the modern Olympics. Britain is one of only four countries that have competed at every Games, and by the time that London hosts the 2012 Games it will become the only city to have hosted the event three times. British athletes have also been extremely successful: in modern times only the USA, Germany and the USSR have won more gold medals than Britain. Bob Phillips' knowledge and experience are unrivalled. His new book explains, enlightens and entertains.

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9781859362136

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Bob Phillips has been a journalist throughout his working life, starting with the monthly magazine, World Sports, in the 1960s, and has reported on athletics and rugby union in particular for numerous national and regional newspapers. He spent 17 years as a member of the BBC Radio 5 athletics commentary team and has attended six Olympic Games. His fondest Olympic memories include seeing David Hemery win the 400 metres hurdles in Mexico City in 1968 and Chris Boardman the pursuit cycling in Barcelona in 1992. He has written a series of well-received books in recent years about sports history, including a biography of the legendary distance-runner, Emil Zatopek; a history of the sub-four-minute mile; and a detailed account of the 1948 London Olympics. His own sporting achievements are exceedingly modest, including once finishing 777th in the London Marathon. He is also passionately interested in jazz and the cinema. He lives in south-west France with his wife, cat and 21 bicycles.

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