Chariots and Horses

Book excerpt: With the 2012 Olympic Games on the horizon, talk of high-level performance, achievement, going for gold and motivational strategy is already rising in pitch. Former Olympic rower Jason Dorland knows how important it is to convey the right message about winning. In this compelling memoir, he shares his challenging journey to cultivate a healthier outlook. Detailing his experiences rowing with the Canadian National Rowing Team and later coaching high-school crews, he reveals how a devastating performance at the 1988 Olympics defined his life for years to come. "In it to win it," he fell apart when that didn't happen. The same win-at-all-costs mentality that made the Olympic loss so hard to bear was also what made it difficult for him to move forward, despite his efforts to overcome his overwhelming sense of failure. An honest, intimate look at the reality of high-level athletics, Jason's memoir is more than a sports story.