Champions: The Making of Olympic Swimmers

The author concentrates on the swimming facility at Mission Viejo, Calif., coach Mark Schubert, considered one of the best in the U.S., and the outstanding athletes who train there, either regularly or sporadically. Chambliss, a sociology professor at Hamilton College in New York, observes that coaches determine their level of achievement by choosing their level of expectations, and that Schubert, for one, expects nothing but the best, demanding complete dedication to the sport and rigorous training. The author focuses on four swimmers in the Olympic year of 1984, all of whom acquitted themselves brilliantly, and provides details on the techniques they used to develop excellence. Of special interest is an epilogue previewing those who will be swimming in Seoul this year and assessing their prospects. Photos not seen by PW. (July)