By a Fraction of a Second

by Lois Ruskai Melina

Read about seven members (five medalists) on the U.S. Olympic team, including: Megan Quann, gold medalist, 100 breast, 400 medley relay, Kristy Kowal, silver medalist, 200 breast and Lindsay Benko,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0964778238
• ISBN13: 9780964778238
• Release Date: September 2000
• Publisher: Sports Publications Inc.
• Length: 264 Pages
• Weight: 1.00 lbs.
• Dimensions: 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Interesting, but not quite a page-turner

This book was very interesting and I loved to read about the young women in USA Swimming! However, it seems like some of the stories may be a little skewed.

Interesting look at today's Olympic swimmers

I first read this book after the 2000 Olympics, and I picked it up again when I saw that several of the swimmers in the book are on the current Olympic team--Natalie Coughlin, Kaitlin Sandeno, Diana Munz, and Lindsay Benko. This book gives a realistic (not a "rah-rah") look at what it takes to be the best. Knowing what these swimmers have had to go through to make the Olympic team makes it all the more interesting to watch them swim.

By a Fraction of a Second

I found this book very inspiring for athletes as well as for coaches. It gives in depth stories about real athletes and what makes them successful, how they deal with defeat and how they live their lives.I highly recommend this book to any sports fan, especially to people that are passionate about swimming. There are great stories and everyone can learn something about what makes a champion! This is an outstanding book to read before the 2004 Olympics Games because almost every single athlete listed in the book is still swimming and trying again to make the team. Go USA!Cyndi GallagherHead Coach, UCLA Swimming

Beyond the lane lines

I'm not a swimmer. I've been a swim official and followed a swimming daughter for over a decade. This book brings the personality of swimmers to the forefront. It's a real page-turner, and you can experience vicariously the chlorine and the struggles that these young women encounter to be elite swimmers. I recommend this book. As a librarian and a swim parent, I know how hard it is to find books for girls on swimming. This is a great read and gives long overdue attention to the sport. For the novice to the expert, there's material here to inform as well as entertain.