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Golden Girl
How Natalie Coughlin Fought Back, Challenged Conventional Wisdom, and Became America's Olympic Champion

by Michael Silver with Natalie Coughlin



      Most people marvel at Natalie Coughlin, the young and talented athlete who swims effortlessly and breaks records. Early in her career, fifteen-year old Coughlin shows her talent as the youngest swimmer to qualify for fourteen of the women's races at the U.S. Nationals. Some people credit Coughlin's athletics to her mother's time constraints, which taught Coughlin to train quickly rather than for long distances. The key relationship, however, is with her trainer, Teri McKeever, who favored training in short bursts over repetitive laps. In Golden Girl, author Michael Silver highlights the young star's path to fame.

Silver, a Sports Illustrated senior writer, immerses the reader in the highs and lows of competitive swimming. Coughlin's talents receive mixed reviews. When Coughlin suffers injury and illness, she questions her abilities and the sport itself. She copes with the mockery and hostility from peers, coaches, media, and fans. Coughlin's ability to physically change her stride with only verbal directions made her a special athlete. McKeever offers a unique training style not widely accepted by those in sports, but McKeever's style resonates with Coughlin. It becomes as natural to her as training in water. How did she become America's Olympic champion? The book will provide the personal background to Natalie Coughlin's turbulent career.

Readers will be intrigued with the inner workings of competitive swimming and with Coughlin's personal quest. Fans may have followed her through the media, ignorant of Coughlin's daily distress, personal dreams, and important relationships. The story of McKeever's training and relationship with Coughlin enriches the book. Sometimes we don't admire only the achievements of our heroes; sometimes we also admire the obstacles they overcame. Read Golden Girl: How Natalie Coughlin Fought Back and cheer her achievements with new understanding. Continuing the theme of the book, Coughlin remains a world champion and is now training for new Olympic records in Beijing.

The Book

Rodale Books
April 18, 2006
Hardcover
1-59486-254-0
Biography
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Excerpt
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The Reviewer

Jennifer Akers
Reviewed 2006
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© 2006 MyShelf.com