Edwin Flack: The Lion of Athens – Australia's First Gold Medalist
Australian History Biography Sports History Olympic Games History Track & Field Young Adult Non-Fiction Illustrated Gift Editions
Edwin Flack: The Lion of Athens – Australia's First Gold Medalist is the only complete biography of the man who single-handedly put Australia on the Olympic map in 1896. Running alone with no coach, no team colours and barely enough money for the boat fare, the 22-year-old accountant from Melbourne won both the 800 m and 1500 m on the Athens infield and then entered—and nearly won—the marathon. Peter Sweeney’s fast-paced narrative recreates the dust, heat and drama of the first modern Games while tracing Flack’s life from suburban athletics meets to the Bank of London boardroom, showing how one quiet Victorian became a national hero and the template for every Australian Olympian who followed.
What makes this 288-page paperback special is the combination of rare archival photographs—many never reprinted since 1896—and Sweeney’s on-the-ground research in Greece and England. Readers see Flack’s hand-written training diary, the battered leather shoes he wore to victory, and the telegram that greeted him back in Melbourne: “Whole colony proud.” Maps of the original Olympic course, gate diagrams of the Panathenaic stadium and period cartoons give collectors and history buffs a visually rich experience while keeping the story accessible to young adults discovering Australia’s earliest sporting legends.
The book is in solid reading condition: clean, tight pages with light corner wear and an earlier owner’s name on the inside front cover—marks that testify to its journey from one athletics enthusiast to another. An inscription on the fly-leaf (not by the author) adds a personal touch without affecting the text. For anyone chasing Australiana, Olympic memorabilia, or an inspiring true story of amateur grit, this illustrated edition of Edwin Flack: The Lion of Athens remains the definitive account of Australia’s first—and still most improbable—double gold medallist.
Refer to our eBay listing for a full condition report and many more high-quality pictures of this item.
Buy Now