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The harrowing, triumphant tale of a cyclist’s journey to Olympic victory and the price he paid to achieve greatness.
Marty Nothstein, one of the greatest cyclists of all time, arrived at the 1996 Olympic Games a heavy favorite. In the match sprint at the Atlanta Olympics, an event akin to prizefighting on a bicycle, he raced around a banked, oval track. Nothstein lost by a hair’s width on the finish line and vowed to win the gold at the next Olympics, saying, “I didn’t come here for a silver medal.”
In The Price of Gold, Marty Nothstein eloquently and honestly tracks his journey to the games in Sydney and the events that molded him into the world’s fastest man on a bicycle—from his tough-love upbringing in a blue-collar, split home, to the “borderline outlaw” cast of cycling characters who helped guide him through the ranks.
“I had to become the worst, to become the best,” Nothstein says of the single-minded determination that turned him into a veritable monster on his bike, but often forced him to neglect his own family. Sure to become a sports classic, this book will be published in time for the 2012 Olympics, when the world’s eyes are trained on London and international conversation will turn to the question of what it takes to win the gold.
This is an great look at the inside the life of a track cyclist. Compared to road racing the pressure of track racing is compress into races of less that 30 seconds. Mistakes, intimidation,and any loss of concentration can spell dissaster.
Marty's commitment, concentration, and confidencce is unmatched. I feel lucky to have actually experienced racing against him.
This book is a must read for any athlete who strives for excellence.
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Overview
The harrowing, triumphant tale of a cyclist’s journey to Olympic victory and the price he paid to achieve greatness.
Marty Nothstein, one of the greatest cyclists of all time, arrived at the 1996 Olympic Games a heavy favorite. In the match sprint at the Atlanta Olympics, an event akin to prizefighting on a bicycle, he raced around a banked, oval track. Nothstein lost by a hair’s width on the finish line and vowed to win the gold at...