John Goodbody – författare

‘I’ve had the unique privilege of witnessing some of the most incredible moments in Olympic history. This book beautifully captures these extraordinary events and the athletes who made them possible. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or simply appreciate stories of human triumph, this is a must-read.’ – Sir Steve Redgrave CBE Dive into the thrilling world of the Summer Games during the Paris Olympics 2024Pairing epic sports photography with articles from The Times and Sunday Times archive, this unofficial volume brings together 100 of the most iconic moments from the history of the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.With striking, full-colour photography, rarely seen archival images and sensational reporting on the action, The Times Olympic Moments showcases the moments of heroism, triumph and controversy that continue to make the Games the centrepiece of the global sporting calendar. Featuring the most stunning records, fiercest rivalries and most dramatic upsets, these instants have changed the course of sporting history and captivated generations of fans along the way.The perfect gift for anyone with an interest in the 2024 Olympics, some of the most iconic moments from this book include: Jesse Owens defies Nazi racism, Berlin, 1936The ‘blood in the water’ match, Melbourne, 1956Cassius Clay bursts onto the scene, Rome, 1960The ‘Fosbury flop’ revolutionises high jump, Mexico City, 1968Terror and tragedy as hostages killed, Munich, 1972Seb Coe vs Steve Ovett in middle-distance rivalry, Moscow, 1980Five in a row for Redgrave, Sydney, 2000Ennis the star of ‘Super Saturday’, London, 2012Simmonds surges to victory, London, 2012Phelps becomes the greatest Olympian, Rio de Janeiro, 2016

‘I’ve had the unique privilege of witnessing some of the most incredible moments in Olympic history. This book beautifully captures these extraordinary events and the athletes who made them possible. Whether you’re a sports enthusiast or simply appreciate stories of human triumph, this is a must-read.’ – Sir Steve Redgrave CBE Dive into the thrilling world of the Summer Games during the Paris Olympics 2024Pairing epic sports photography with articles from The Times and Sunday Times archive, this unofficial volume brings together 100 of the most iconic moments from the history of the Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games.With striking, full-colour photography, rarely seen archival images and sensational reporting on the action, The Times Olympic Moments showcases the moments of heroism, triumph and controversy that continue to make the Games the centrepiece of the global sporting calendar. Featuring the most stunning records, fiercest rivalries and most dramatic upsets, these instants have changed the course of sporting history and captivated generations of fans along the way.The perfect gift for anyone with an interest in the 2024 Olympics, some of the most iconic moments from this book include: Jesse Owens defies Nazi racism, Berlin, 1936The ‘blood in the water’ match, Melbourne, 1956Cassius Clay bursts onto the scene, Rome, 1960The ‘Fosbury flop’ revolutionises high jump, Mexico City, 1968Terror and tragedy as hostages killed, Munich, 1972Seb Coe vs Steve Ovett in middle-distance rivalry, Moscow, 1980Five in a row for Redgrave, Sydney, 2000Ennis the star of ‘Super Saturday’, London, 2012Simmonds surges to victory, London, 2012Phelps becomes the greatest Olympian, Rio de Janeiro, 2016

People have been drawn to the challenge of swimming the English Channel since the first recorded attempt. In this book, venerated sports writer, author and Channel swimmer John Goodbody celebrates the 150th anniversary of Captain Matthew Webb’s first successful crossing in 1875 by telling his story and those of many of the outstanding men and women who have achieved the feat since, as well as those intrepid individuals who failed – or even died trying. Compiled with research from publications, academic journals, newspaper archives and extensive interviews, these stories tell of the heroic feats, the triumphs, the failures, the deaths and the frequent controversies as men and women have battled across the Strait, defying rough seas, storms, jellyfish and treacherous currents.