Scan barcode
Reviews
The Dirtiest Race in History: Ben Johnson, Carl Lewis and the Olympic 100m Final by Richard Moore
tombennett72's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this telling of a race that lasted less than 10 seconds. Unfortunately, the book was more like Carl Lewis than Ben Johnson, in that it started fairly slowly and then built up a pace. I'm glad, though, that I stuck with it.
Well researched and well told - a good look inside an amazing era for sprinting.
Well researched and well told - a good look inside an amazing era for sprinting.
daveirl's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this. Had read Charlie Francis' (Ben Johnson's coach) book before but this was a far more complete read on 1980s sprinting.
checkers09's review against another edition
4.0
The dirtiest race in history covers the build-up and aftermath of the 1988 100m Olympic final and the rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis.
Before reading this book I knew relatively little about the this period in sprinting other then Ben Johnson was a cheat and Carl Lewis was one of the greatest sprinters ever; after reading this book though I realise just how intriguing this period in athletics really was from the use of drugs to the rivalries and (for the time) mind-boggling times that were being set.
The first few chapters explain the conflicting rise of the two athletes, Carl Lewis came from an athletic family and was extremely gifted from a young age. Ben Johnson, on the other hand, came from a less well-off family and had a much more gradual rise to the top. Carl Lewis, for all his achievements, is presented as quite a pompous character due to comparing himself to Michael Jackson and his apparent need for prestigious sponsorships and recognition. it also delves into the reasons behind his dislike in the media throughout his career on-top of appearing arrogant he also was accused of being a Homosexual and progressive which played a role in his dislike in the 1980s media. After the 1984 Olympics which Lewis won Ben Johnson began to gradually climb the ranks in sprinting due to his coach Charlie Francis and his use of PED's. Ben Johnson after losing countless times to Lewis finally beat him in Zurich 1985 then went from strength to strength. He won almost every meeting after that including the world athletics final in which he set a new world record 9.83. then in Seoul he won gold again and set another world record before being disqualified for stanozolol. after that, disgraced Johnson went on a downhill streak having his reputation in taters losing sponsors and never reaching the same form again. carl in contrast would set a new world record in 1991 of 9.86 and is still remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
The most commendable thing about this book is Moore's obvious effort that he's put into getting the most comprehensive account he can. He truly scoured the globe to interview anyone who was of importance to the story, which given the relative anonymity of many of the people involved, is very impressive. Incredibly the one man he struggled get an interview with is perhaps the most well-known, Carl Lewis who seems to have lived up to his reputation. His interview with Ben Johnson added a lot to the book as being able to hear first-hand from the man himself was very interesting, providing some great soundbites as well.
He delves between the sprinting history and drug-use history quite interchangeable, I found the sprinting history to be more engaging as the drug-use side of the story is still a bit murky even now. I also would have liked if the purpose of the particular drug's that were used and their benefits and side effects were better explained as it's still not clear exactly what makes them so powerful other than the obvious in that they are steroids. the two seemed different in so many ways Carl was hard-working eloquent arrogant and elegant with an incredible last forty metres. Johnson on other hand was laid-back, quite (maybe due to his stutter) and explosive out of blocks with a powerful running style.
The rivalry is perhaps the most captivating as it seems the two and their respective camps had genuine animosity towards each other. Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson were constantly making digs towards each other in the media and in private, even twenty years later, Johnson still seems to harbour a grudge towards him. Moore even explains a theory which accuses the Lewis camp of deliberately spiking Johnson's beer after Seoul using the 'mystery man' Andre Jackson although its uncertain how much of this is just bitterness on Johnson's part. Another aspect revealed was just how disliked Lewis was by his fellow runners I always got the impression Lewis was a cool-laid-back figure that would get along well with anyone, but interviews with his contemporaries show the disdain many like Christie, Wells and Stewart had for him.
Moore gives a more nuanced perspective then you'll find anywhere in the media Carl Lewis by his own reckoning and by the public was seen as the 'clean' guy going up against the cheat and trying to win but it's evident that Johnson isn't even close to being the only sprinter in that time tainted with drugs. In fact six of the eight Seoul finalists were caught at some point in their career of using drugs earning the race's name as the dirtiest in history, even Carl Lewis was caught using a PED but was latter cleared as having unknowingly taken them.
The story is quite an interesting example of just how far people can fall just by their reputation alone. after his 9.79 run Johnson was a world record holder Olympic medalist and soon-to-be multi-millionaire with a bright future in sprinting ahead. After he was caught, he was vilified in the press, abandoned by his country, banned from sprinting and by the time of Moore interviewing him bitter, relatively poor and forgotten. To think if he had started his drug cycle earlier he may have gone to the grave as an Olympic gold medalist and the first man to run sub 9.8 without anyone knowing otherwise.
Overall this is a fantastic look at the rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis and the use of drugs in Athletics. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in this period of sprinting.
Before reading this book I knew relatively little about the this period in sprinting other then Ben Johnson was a cheat and Carl Lewis was one of the greatest sprinters ever; after reading this book though I realise just how intriguing this period in athletics really was from the use of drugs to the rivalries and (for the time) mind-boggling times that were being set.
The first few chapters explain the conflicting rise of the two athletes, Carl Lewis came from an athletic family and was extremely gifted from a young age. Ben Johnson, on the other hand, came from a less well-off family and had a much more gradual rise to the top. Carl Lewis, for all his achievements, is presented as quite a pompous character due to comparing himself to Michael Jackson and his apparent need for prestigious sponsorships and recognition. it also delves into the reasons behind his dislike in the media throughout his career on-top of appearing arrogant he also was accused of being a Homosexual and progressive which played a role in his dislike in the 1980s media. After the 1984 Olympics which Lewis won Ben Johnson began to gradually climb the ranks in sprinting due to his coach Charlie Francis and his use of PED's. Ben Johnson after losing countless times to Lewis finally beat him in Zurich 1985 then went from strength to strength. He won almost every meeting after that including the world athletics final in which he set a new world record 9.83. then in Seoul he won gold again and set another world record before being disqualified for stanozolol. after that, disgraced Johnson went on a downhill streak having his reputation in taters losing sponsors and never reaching the same form again. carl in contrast would set a new world record in 1991 of 9.86 and is still remembered as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
The most commendable thing about this book is Moore's obvious effort that he's put into getting the most comprehensive account he can. He truly scoured the globe to interview anyone who was of importance to the story, which given the relative anonymity of many of the people involved, is very impressive. Incredibly the one man he struggled get an interview with is perhaps the most well-known, Carl Lewis who seems to have lived up to his reputation. His interview with Ben Johnson added a lot to the book as being able to hear first-hand from the man himself was very interesting, providing some great soundbites as well.
He delves between the sprinting history and drug-use history quite interchangeable, I found the sprinting history to be more engaging as the drug-use side of the story is still a bit murky even now. I also would have liked if the purpose of the particular drug's that were used and their benefits and side effects were better explained as it's still not clear exactly what makes them so powerful other than the obvious in that they are steroids. the two seemed different in so many ways Carl was hard-working eloquent arrogant and elegant with an incredible last forty metres. Johnson on other hand was laid-back, quite (maybe due to his stutter) and explosive out of blocks with a powerful running style.
The rivalry is perhaps the most captivating as it seems the two and their respective camps had genuine animosity towards each other. Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson were constantly making digs towards each other in the media and in private, even twenty years later, Johnson still seems to harbour a grudge towards him. Moore even explains a theory which accuses the Lewis camp of deliberately spiking Johnson's beer after Seoul using the 'mystery man' Andre Jackson although its uncertain how much of this is just bitterness on Johnson's part. Another aspect revealed was just how disliked Lewis was by his fellow runners I always got the impression Lewis was a cool-laid-back figure that would get along well with anyone, but interviews with his contemporaries show the disdain many like Christie, Wells and Stewart had for him.
Moore gives a more nuanced perspective then you'll find anywhere in the media Carl Lewis by his own reckoning and by the public was seen as the 'clean' guy going up against the cheat and trying to win but it's evident that Johnson isn't even close to being the only sprinter in that time tainted with drugs. In fact six of the eight Seoul finalists were caught at some point in their career of using drugs earning the race's name as the dirtiest in history, even Carl Lewis was caught using a PED but was latter cleared as having unknowingly taken them.
The story is quite an interesting example of just how far people can fall just by their reputation alone. after his 9.79 run Johnson was a world record holder Olympic medalist and soon-to-be multi-millionaire with a bright future in sprinting ahead. After he was caught, he was vilified in the press, abandoned by his country, banned from sprinting and by the time of Moore interviewing him bitter, relatively poor and forgotten. To think if he had started his drug cycle earlier he may have gone to the grave as an Olympic gold medalist and the first man to run sub 9.8 without anyone knowing otherwise.
Overall this is a fantastic look at the rivalry between Ben Johnson and Carl Lewis and the use of drugs in Athletics. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in this period of sprinting.
calcoco's review against another edition
4.0
So, so good. It read almost like a thriller. I'm left with lots of feelings and wanting to know more about doping in sports.
venkyloquist's review against another edition
3.0
The Race; The Rivalry; The Result and The Recrimination. on the 24th of September, 1998 at 1.20 P.M in Seoul, 7 athletes limbered their bodies, trying to slacken and relax their muscles and limbs. However, Robson da Silva, Raymond Stewart, Lindford Christie, Desai Williams, Calvin Smith and Dennis Mitchell merely made up the numbers. The attention of the whole world was riveted upon the remaining 2 finalists - Carl Lewis and Ben Johnson.
The 100 meters sprint finals at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 defined a seminal moment in the acerbic rivalry between two supreme athletes. Their battles were spoken of in the same breath as the boxing bouts of Ali & Frazier and the serve and volley clashes of Borg and Connors. While King Carl was refined, polished, cultured and sophisticated in his demeanour, Big Ben was his polar opposite. Looking brash and sounding cocky, Ben Johnson was a perfect anathema of a sophisticated role model.
As the starting gun was fired, all seven athletes sprung up and took off like a pack of gazelles. However at the end of 9.79 seconds, Ben Johnson the 'Human Bullet' had left the whole pack hopelessly trailing behind him. Johnson and Canada had bagged the gold medal. But the euphoria barely lasted couple of days. In a stunning announcement made on the Tuesday following the race, the Olympic Association announced to a stunned world that Johnson had been tested positive for a banned substance, Stanozolol, which led to his being disqualified and consequently stripped of his medal. Carl Lewis thus had the unique honour of defending (albeit in unusual circumstances) his gold medal conquest in the Los Angeles Olympics held four years earlier. But was Ben Johnson's sample as a result of a spiking conspiracy? Did a mysterious man who was in the anti-doping test room (where he had no business whatsoever), spike Johnson's beer? Was this a conspiracy contrived by Carl Lewis himself?
In this stunning work, Richard Moore ploughs deep into the underbelly of the athlete-doctor-drug runner network and unearths the murky and dangerous side athletics. In fact amongst all the runners who started in the sensational 100 meters sprint final at Seoul, only Calvin Smith and Robson da Silva had squeaky clean drug-free careers. Even Lewis was tested positive at the pre-Olympic trials only to be exonerated mysteriously!
Doctors collude with coached and urine samples disappear overnight as the steroid market runs into overdrive to make athletes stronger, faster and over time, poorer in health. Charlie Francis, the coach of Ben Johnson, in tandem with an eccentric medical doctor, Jamie Astaphan consciously egged on their pupil on a stringent steroid regimen injecting into his body performance enhancing drugs such as Estrogol and other Human Growth Harmones ("HGH").
The world of sports is at a real crossroads. With an ineffective anti-doping body and extremely ell connected and influential 'fixers' having the wherewithal and the resources to bypass investigation mechanisms, 'cheats' are beginning to abound. Richard Moore with devastating clarity exhorts the governing agencies to take the bull by its horns and put it to permanent sleep.
The Dirtiest Race - Time to come Clean!
The 100 meters sprint finals at the Seoul Olympics in 1988 defined a seminal moment in the acerbic rivalry between two supreme athletes. Their battles were spoken of in the same breath as the boxing bouts of Ali & Frazier and the serve and volley clashes of Borg and Connors. While King Carl was refined, polished, cultured and sophisticated in his demeanour, Big Ben was his polar opposite. Looking brash and sounding cocky, Ben Johnson was a perfect anathema of a sophisticated role model.
As the starting gun was fired, all seven athletes sprung up and took off like a pack of gazelles. However at the end of 9.79 seconds, Ben Johnson the 'Human Bullet' had left the whole pack hopelessly trailing behind him. Johnson and Canada had bagged the gold medal. But the euphoria barely lasted couple of days. In a stunning announcement made on the Tuesday following the race, the Olympic Association announced to a stunned world that Johnson had been tested positive for a banned substance, Stanozolol, which led to his being disqualified and consequently stripped of his medal. Carl Lewis thus had the unique honour of defending (albeit in unusual circumstances) his gold medal conquest in the Los Angeles Olympics held four years earlier. But was Ben Johnson's sample as a result of a spiking conspiracy? Did a mysterious man who was in the anti-doping test room (where he had no business whatsoever), spike Johnson's beer? Was this a conspiracy contrived by Carl Lewis himself?
In this stunning work, Richard Moore ploughs deep into the underbelly of the athlete-doctor-drug runner network and unearths the murky and dangerous side athletics. In fact amongst all the runners who started in the sensational 100 meters sprint final at Seoul, only Calvin Smith and Robson da Silva had squeaky clean drug-free careers. Even Lewis was tested positive at the pre-Olympic trials only to be exonerated mysteriously!
Doctors collude with coached and urine samples disappear overnight as the steroid market runs into overdrive to make athletes stronger, faster and over time, poorer in health. Charlie Francis, the coach of Ben Johnson, in tandem with an eccentric medical doctor, Jamie Astaphan consciously egged on their pupil on a stringent steroid regimen injecting into his body performance enhancing drugs such as Estrogol and other Human Growth Harmones ("HGH").
The world of sports is at a real crossroads. With an ineffective anti-doping body and extremely ell connected and influential 'fixers' having the wherewithal and the resources to bypass investigation mechanisms, 'cheats' are beginning to abound. Richard Moore with devastating clarity exhorts the governing agencies to take the bull by its horns and put it to permanent sleep.
The Dirtiest Race - Time to come Clean!
bmwpalmer's review
3.0
It was good, but it should have been better. The author takes people at their word too often, and since his access to the principal players was uneven, certain sides come out looking better than others when they probably shouldn't. The beginning of the book (including early-80s rumors about Lewis' sexuality) and the end (the showdown in Seoul) were the best parts.
lisseut's review
4.0
Very interesting account of the lead up to and fallout from the disqualification of Ben Johnson in the Seoul Olympics 100m race. Would have been interesting to read more about the introduction of drugs into the sport, but I suppose that's a topic for another book.
More...