The Marathon Makers

In the space of 24 hours in July 1908, two of the most dramatic events in sporting history came to a climax at the first London Olympic Games. As the 2008 London Marathon celebrates the centenary of the marathon distance of 26 miles 385 yards, a standard now accepted now accepted worldwide, this thrilling account of heroism, ambition and scandal tells for the first time the story of three remarkable men whose destinies collided in the battle that overshadowed these Games. The lives of an aristocratic British solider who believed fair play was more important than winning, an American orphan driven to escape crushing poverty and an Italian who valued fame more highly than victory met that day in a series of events that have defined sport ever since. Diminutive Italian, Dorando Pietri, staggered into the stadium, turned the wrong way, fell five times and was practically carried across the finish line. The ensuing rows couldn't have been further from the apparent gentility for Edwardian London or the spirit of solidarity and fair play espoused by the Olympic movement and helped to turn him into one of the twentieth century's first worldwide celebrities. And when Scottish sprinter Wyndham Halswelle and American Johnny Hayes were dragged into the dispute, a fierce war between the United States and the British Empire for sporting superiority rapidly spilled over into politics, lifestyle and ethics, with allegations of cheating, drug taking and unporfessionalism. Bestselling author and long-time marathon runner John Bryant delved into the lives of these three extraordinary characters in a tale that stretched from rural Italy to the battlefields of the Boer War; from Ellis Island to Broadway and beyond to explore the foundations of the modern sporting and marathon movements and celebrate the strength of the human spirit. A must-read for runners, armchair sports-fans and anyone who values inspiration, at the heart of this fascinating book remain the people whose passion for their dream, demonstrates - as every runner knows - that self-belief can triumph over a win-at-all costs philosophy.

John Bryant has worked as a Fleet Street journalist since 1971 and was most recently Editor-in-Chief of the Daily and Sunday Telegraph. His passionate interest in sport and physical endeavour - both as a writer and a top-class competitor - led to his involvement in the London Marathon, which he has tirelessly promoted, helped develop and competed in for over 25 years. A lifelong athlete and Oxford Blue, John coached Olympic athlete Zola Budd and is a veteran of marathons around the world. He was a long-time captain of the world's oldest cross-country club, the Thames Hare and Hounds, and a former country champion. He is married with two children and lives in Surrey and Dorset.