Headfirst: The Olympic Success Story of Skeleton
by Robie Vaughn with Mike Towle
Published by Brown Books Publishing Group
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Reviewed by Jean M. Holewa
Headfirst encapsulates all that is revered about Olympic competition. Great athleticism and determination are the recognized qualities of any athlete in pursuit of Olympic gold.
The ability to compete on this worldwide stage is the dream of many athletes. For skeleton athletes the dream seemed inaccessible, as their sport had not been recognized in Olympic competition since 1948.
Seemingly far removed from snow and extreme sports, Dallas businessman Robie Vaughn saw an opportunity to "add new blood" to the Winter Olympics. Determined to find a way to enter Olympic competition, the author discovered this little-known sport of sliding on a sled not much bigger than a cafeteria tray, navigating a mile-long track at speeds often exceeding 80 mph--headfirst. From his first slide down the run, he was hooked.
Combining his passion for the sport and his keen business acumen, the author navigated through seemingly endless obstacles to achieve his dream. One taste of victory came in getting the sport reinstated in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Like any good success story, Headfirst details the personalities and politics encountered on the way to glory. I felt a sense of pride when the story culminated with members of the USA Skeleton team accepting their medals, the first in over 50 years.
Armchair Interviews says: Although trying to remember all the acronyms and names was somewhat challenging, this intriguing sports story is worthy reading if you like people who accept and overcome challenges.