<b><b>The <i>New York Times</i> bestseller - with a new afterword added to the paperback <b>- from the author of <i>Range: Why Generalists Triumph in a Specialized World</i></b>.</b> <p> <i>In high school, I wondered whether the Jamaican Americans who made our track team so successful might carry some special speed gene from their tiny island. In college, I ran against Kenyans, and wondered whether endurance genes might have traveled with them from East Africa. At the same time, I began to notice that a training group on my team could consist of five men who run next to one another, stride for stride, day after day, and nonetheless turn out five entirely different runners. How could this be?</i></b> <p> We all knew a star athlete in high school. The one who made it look so easy. He was the starting quarterback and shortstop; she was the all-state point guard and high-jumper. <i>Naturals</i>. Or were they? <p> The debate is as old as physical competition. Are stars like Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, and Serena Williams genetic freaks put on Earth to dominate their respective sports? Or are they simply normal people who overcame their biological limits through sheer force of will and obsessive training?<br> The truth is far messier than a simple dichotomy between nature and nurture. In the decade since the sequencing of the human genome, researchers have slowly begun to uncover how the relationship between biological endowments and a competitor's training environment affects athleticism. Sports scientists have gradually entered the era of modern genetic research. <p> In this controversial and engaging exploration of athletic success, <i>Sports Illustrated</i> senior writer David Epstein tackles the great nature vs. nurture debate and traces how far science has come in solving this great riddle. He investigates the so-called 10,000-hour rule to uncover whether rigorous and consistent practice from a young age is the only route to athletic excellence. <p> Along the way, Epstein dispels many of our perceptions about why top athletes excel. He shows why some skills that we assume are innate, like the bullet-fast reactions of a baseball or cricket batter, are not, and why other characteristics that we assume are entirely voluntary, like an athlete's will to train, might in fact have important genetic components. <p> This subject necessarily involves digging deep into sensitive topics like race and gender. Epstein explores controversial questions such as: <p> - Are black athletes genetically predetermined to dominate both sprinting and distance running, and are their abilities influenced by Africa's geography? <br> - Are there genetic reasons to separate male and female athletes in competition? <br> - Should we test the genes of young children to determine if they are destined for stardom? <br> - Can genetic testing determine who is at risk of injury, brain damage, or even death on the field? <br> Through on-the-ground reporting from below the equator and above the Arctic Circle, revealing conversations with leading scientists and Olympic champions, and interviews with athletes who have rare genetic mutations or physical traits, Epstein forces us to rethink the very nature of athleticism.

The autobiography of the fastest man of all time and a superstar whose talent and charisma have made him one of the most famous people on the planet. Whether you know Athletics or not, and even whether you know sport or not, chances are you know Usain Bolt. The fastest man on the planet, not just now but ever, Usain has won the hearts of people everywhere with his mind-blowing performances and his infectious charisma - uniting supporters around the world.In this, his full autobiography, Usain tells his story in his own words: from humble beginnings in Jamaica, to international stardom at Beijing and on to the new heights of superstardom he has reached since lighting up London 2012.Full of the charm and charisma that has made him the most popular sporting figure of our time and a universal celebrity, this is a book that Usain's millions of fans will love.

The autobiography of the fastest man of all time and a superstar whose talent and charisma have made him one of the most famous people on the planet. Whether you know Athletics or not, and even whether you know sport or not, chances are you know Usain Bolt. The fastest man on the planet, not just now but ever, Usain has won the hearts of people everywhere with his mind-blowing performances and his infectious charisma - uniting supporters around the world. In this, his full autobiography, Usain tells his story in his own words: from humble beginnings in Jamaica, to international stardom at Beijing and on to the new heights of superstardom he has reached since lighting up London 2012. Full of the charm and charisma that has made him the most popular sporting figure of our time and a universal celebrity, this is a book that Usain's millions of fans will love.

Jag lever för det stora ögonblicket. Det är då jag vaknar till liv.Ge mig en stor arena, en kamp, en utmaning, och någonting händer. Jag skärper mig. Jag blir tre centimeter längre och rör mig aningen snabbare. Ge mig en stor arena och ni ska se att jag presterar.Jag har vunnit tävlingar och slagit rekord sedan jag var femton, men framgången har sitt pris. Jag har kämpat mig igenom svåra skador, en allvarlig bilolycka och de påfrestningar det innebär att vara berömd. Jag är som bäst när det gäller, och har vunnit sex OS-guld och åtta VM. Jag har antagit varenda utmaning för att bli snabbast på jorden.Det här är min berättelse.

A richly illustrated book on the career, on and off the track, of sprinting superstar Usain Bolt, from schoolboy prodigy to World and triple Olympic Champion and world record holder for 100 and 200 metres. This comprehensive new biography includes an exclusive farewell penned by the world champion himself and is a must-have for every Bolt fan and athletics enthusiast.

Usain had a dream, he wanted to play cricket. But an eagle-eyed coach spotted his sprinting talent at school in Jamaica. Usain soon discovered that the path to becoming a pro-athlete is tough going, and if he was to fulfil his destiny and become the FASTEST MAN ON EARTH, he was going to need every ounce of determination, plus a great sense of humour. This is the story of Usain's discovery, his first athletic events and the Olympic Games.Dream to Win: Usain Bolt is written by expert author Roy Apps for kids with a reading age of 7 (but could also be enjoyed by pre-teens) and illustrated with black-and-white artwork. The stories focus on top athletes and sport personalities, with each dramatic story bringing to life the skill, determination and luck needed to break through into top level competition.This title is published by Franklin Watts EDGE, which produces a range of booksto get children reading with confidence. EDGE - for books kids can't put down.

Historien om verdens hurtigste mann. «Jeg kan løpe en hundremeter på 9,9 sekunder uten å trene i det hele tatt.».Dette sier den jamaikanske friidrettsstjernen Usain Bolt, som har verdensrekorden på 100 meter, 200 meter og 4 x 100 meter stafett. Han har løpt fortere enn noe menneske på jorden. Men ikke nok med det han er samtidig en publikumsyndling som shower og sjarmerer. Denne boken har mye faktastoff, flotte bilder, intervjuer og quiz ? og en kul plakat.

A young person's biography of the Olympic champion and fastest human in the world 9.58 seconds was all it took for Usain Bolt to blaze his way into the history books, with a 100 meters world record that shocked the world. But when Usain was little, he preferred cricket to running. No one knew that the tall, skinny boy from a small town in Jamaica would go on to become "The Lightning Bolt"--the fastest man ever.

In 2008, Usain Bolt became the fastest man in the world. He won three gold medals at the Beijing Olympic Games that year - and he did it again in 2012, and in 2016. So how did a boy from a little Jamaican village become the world's greatest athlete? And why do his fans love him so much? Word count 5,494

Beijing 2008: Usain Bolt slows down as he approaches the finish line of the the 100-meter finals. He beats his chest, well ahead of his nearest rival, his face filled with the euphoria of a young man utterly in thrall to his extraordinary physical talent. It is one of the greatest moments in sports history, and it is just the beginning.

Beijing 2008, the 100 metres final: Usain Bolt slows down, beats his chest, metres clear of his nearest rival, his face filled with the euphoria of a young man utterly in thrall to his extraordinary physical talent.

Er stjerner som Usain Bolt, Michael Phelps, Serena Williams, Lionel Messi og Petter Northug genetiske utskudd som er født til å dominere i sine respektive idrettsgrener? Eller er de normale mennesker som endte opp som enere grunnet ekstrem viljestyrke og enorme mengder med trening? Og er det kultur eller gener som best kan forklare hvorfor kun 17 amerikanere gjennom tidene har klart å løpe et maraton raskere enn to timer og ti minutter når 32 kenyanere klarte det i løpet av oktober 2011? I Idrettsgenet forklarer David Epstein på en lettfattelig og engasjerende måte hva vitenskapen vet om genenes og miljøets betydning for store idrettsprestasjoner. Boka tar oss med når Epstein drar verden rundt og intervjuer klodens beste idrettsstjerner, og forskerne som studerer dem. Epsteins fortelling tvinger oss til å tenke nytt om hvordan gener og miljø påvirker menneskers prestasjoner på idrettsbanen. Idrettsgenet har vunnet en rekke internasjonale priser og utmerkelser. Boka er en New York Times best seller. Idrettsgenet er så langt oversatt til 16 språk.

Discover the untapped power of the human mindHow do champions like Lewis Hamilton, Novak Djokovic and Usain Bolt suppress their fear of failure and find the belief to win? How did Michael Phelps and Jessica Ennis-Hill visualise their own future? What exactly is 'The Zone'? And how do you get there?Drawing on over one hundred exclusive interviews with the world's elite stars of sports ranging from boxing to rugby union, Formula One to the Paralympics, Clyde Brolin sets out to discover the secrets of true success and show how they can be used by all of us in our own lives, whoever we are.'PEOPLE LOOK AT CHAMPIONS AND THINK THEY'RE A DIFFERENT BREED, BUT WE ALL UNDERESTIMATE WHAT WE'RE CAPABLE OF' CHRIS HOY'THE MAGIC LIVES INSIDE EVERY ONE OF US - DESPITE OUR ENVIRONMENT, OUR STRUGGLES AND OUR DOUBTS' CATHY FREEMAN

When did the Olympic Games begin? Who are the greatest athletes? With dramatic photos of Usain Bolt, Jessica Ennis-Hill and more, this is the story of the world's biggest multi-sport event, from Ancient Greece to 2016. With internet links to selected websites, and index and contents pages. Produced with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Literary Nonfiction. Sports. Roger Federer is a modern obsession. He is one of those few athletes--like Muhammed Ali, or Usain Bolt--who has transcended his sport. His long career has seen him win the most Grand Slam singles titles of any man in history, while amassing untold wealth, and a heroic reputation. But why does Federer matter so much to so many people? In ROGER FEDERER: PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST, Christopher Jackson considers Federer's place in philosophy, in history--and even in the history of aesthetics--to approach the meaning of the man. When you've finished this book, you'll never look at Federer--or at sport--in the same way again.

It's the cat's pajamas for the cat lover on your list! #1 New York Times best-selling author Matthew Inman, aka The Oatmeal, delivers the goods with this purrfect mix of feline facts and cat-loving humor illustrated in his irresistible style. Does your cat purr continuously? (Like a diesel engine!) Can kitty taste things that are sweet? (Kitties are not impressed by cupcakes.) How fast can your cat run? (Faster than Usain Bolt!) Written and drawn by The Oatmeal, 10 Things Worth Knowing about Your Cat is as funny as it is factual. The Oatmeal's unique, charming wit delights and informs clueless humans about their feline friends in this must-have book for cat lovers and those who tolerate them.

A Boston Globe Best Book of the Year A Kirkus Reviews Best Nonfiction Book of the Year The Games is best-selling sportswriter David Goldblatt's sweeping, definitive history of the modern Olympics. Goldblatt brilliantly traces their history from the reinvention of the Games in Athens in 1896 to Rio in 2016, revealing how the Olympics developed into a global colossus and highlighting how they have been buffeted by (and affected by) domestic and international conflicts. Along the way, Goldblatt reveals the origins of beloved Olympic traditions (winners' medals, the torch relay, the eternal flame) and popular events (gymnastics, alpine skiing, the marathon). And he delivers memorable portraits of Olympic icons from Jesse Owens to Nadia Comaneci, the Dream Team to Usain Bolt.

It takes just under 10 seconds to run, but to the winner of Athletics' men's 100 metres goes the accolade of "The Fastest Man on Earth". 100 Metre Men, first published in 1988 as a tie-in to the Thames Television series The Fastest Men on Earth, is reissued in paperback format, fully revised and updated to include the incredible men's 100 metres final at the London 2012 Games when Usain Bolt won his second gold medal. Each chapter discusses not only the race itself, but also the preliminary rounds, dramas and controversies and includes interviews with all the key players, not just the champion. Immaculately researched and written in an entertaining style 100 Metre Men brings to life some of the greatest athletes who ever set foot on a running track.

Get up close with the champions of the biggest sporting event in the world!From shot-putters to ice-skaters, the Olympic Games showcase the very best sporting achievements and feature some truly memorable personalities and performances. Discover them in The Unofficial Guide to Olympic Champions!Great reading for children aged 8 and up.Contents 'Faster, higher, stronger' Athletics (Track): Usain Bolt/Jamaica & Mo Farah/GB Athletics (Field) Valerie Adams/NZ & Carl Lewis/USA Boxing: Nicola Adams/GB & Teofilo Stevenson/Cuba Cycling: Jason Kenny/GB & Anna Meares/Australia Football: USA & Hungary Gymnastics: Simone Biles/USA & Nadia Comaneci/Romania Rowing/canoeing: Steve Redgrave/GB & Michal Martikan/Slovakia Ice skating: Yuzuru Hanru/Japan & Ireen Wust/NetherlandsSnowboard/skiing: Shaun White/USA & Marit Bjorgen/Norway Swimming: Michael Phelps/USA & Rebecca Adlington/GB Triathlon: Alistair Brownlee/GB & Simon Whitfield/Canada Olympic not-so-champions Olympic words Olympic host cities Index & Further information