No Olympic event can rival the rich history and grand spectacle of the marathon. Created for the first modern Olympic Games in Athens in 1896 as a commemoration of the legendary run by the Greek messenger Philippides, the race has endured like no other, producing a century of awe-inspiring competition and unforgettable stories. This definitive resource, written by world-renowned Olympic marathon experts David Martin and Roger Gynn, goes beyond statistics to offer readers a vivid chronicle of the athletes and their memorable marathon performances.
For each race, The Olympic Marathon provides the following:
- A summary of the geographical setting and political climate surrounding the Olympic Movement
- A course map and detailed street description
- A step-by-step narrative of how the race was run
- Biographical sketches of the top three finishers
- A “Looking Ahead” section, which summarizes marathon highlights leading up to the next Olympic marathon
The Olympic Marathon brings the high drama and rich details of the past 24 Olympic marathon races to life in a way no other book ever has.
