I will never tire of an underdog story. The Boys in the Boat by Daniel Brown is a true Olympic underdog story that reads like a novel, but is shockingly nonfiction. I was searching for a story that would inspire and this blew me out of the water!
We Know How It Ends
Okay, okay, we all know how it ends. Even if you aren’t a peek-at-the-last-chapter kinda gal, you likely know that the Washington Huskies won the gold in rowing at the 1936 Olympics. That’s not a secret. But the journey to get there is surprising and gutting.
We all have heard that it’s the journey – not the destination – that matters. I’m no Olympic athlete but I’ma go out on a limb and say anyone looking for a gold medal cares very much about the destination and a tiny bit less about the journey. But, what do I know. 😉
What Sets These Boys Apart
Rowing isn’t a cheap sport. You won’t find rowing (along with lots of other activities that require some serious dough) at every school. Add in the need for a large body of water and that limits the field more so. Add in that the Ivy league schools had cornered the market on rowing championships, and it’s no surprise that the Washington Huskies rowing team had an uphill battle ahead.
The Huskies winning a national championship was about as far out as these same students going to the Olympics. Imagine everyone’s surprise!? This was truly shocking!
What’s extra special about this group of men that make up this underdog team is that they were loggers and fisherman and working class students. They earned their keep. Many had jobs just to support their tuition. There wasn’t extra money for anything. Joe, for example, set up an agreement at the local YMCA for a room in exchange for being their custodian.
Mind you, this job is after college classes, after a grueling practice, after homework. He slept for a few hours. Rinse, repeat. Can you imagine the true GRIT!?
Layer in one more important factor: the Great Depression. So these boys who are responsible for their livelihood are doing everything necessary in the roughest chapter the country had ever seen. Is your mind blowing yet?
Joe Rantz
The Boys in the Boat shares details about all the members of the Washington rowing team who went on to win gold throughout the book, but there is an emphasis on Joe Rantz. Ladies, this man had it insanely rough. From the beginning. And it just didn’t let up.
I don’t want to spoil too much of Joe’s story but how this man didn’t turn out to be a cold, resentful human is beyond this world!
I am determined to learn more about this man. We all can learn from him to say the least. If there was an underdog of this team of underdogs, it would be Joe.
What Resonated With Me
The Boys in the Boat is so full of compassion and empathy. Truly trying to walk in these boys’ shoes to get a glimpse of their journey. There’s hope. And learning to trust completely. Trust in the training, trust in each other, trust it will work out for the best.
And let’s not minimize the difficulty of this sport! That sure resonated with me as I read about their workouts in the nastiest elements, after long school days, competing every damn day to prove you belong in the seat you’re in. Just incredible, folks.
I loved this book, and I hope you give it a whirl before the summer Olympics!