My old friend Jim Holt has written a memoir about his two decades striving for the international development of gymnastics. I’m certain it will be a great read.
It is an extraordinary saga of inspiring and (often) hilarious efforts to change the world through sport. Jim has transcended venality, corruption, and oft non-sensical institutional and bureaucratic resistance in a manner which ultimately affects the lives of those with whom he comes in contact. In short, it is a manifesto for self-determination, individual achievement, and a refusal to capitulate to the tides of conformity which threaten us all….
… He has coached (to date) in 11 World Championships, including 1991- Bolivia; 1993- Bolivia & Ecuador, 1994-Bolivia, 1996-Iran, 1997 Barbados; 1999-Namibia; 2001-Bolivia; 2002- Bolivia; 2003- Bolivia; 2006-Yemen; 2007- Yemen. He was the National Coach for Zimbabwe at the 1995 All-African Games where he also served as Gymnastics Competition Director, and was Assistant Coach for Nigeria at the 1994 Commonwealth Games. …
It’s titled “Chasing Impossible Dreams”; check out the website:
www.chasingimpossibledreams.com
It’s available from the author, Money Order or Cheque for US$18.95 inclusive of mailing. Cheap.
Or … order through the website via Paypal.
It’s coming to Amazon.com soon, but possibly not soon enough for Christmas.
5 comments ↓
This seems like it should be a very interesting read. Getting through the essay on the website about inscription in Bolivia was kinda hard. I hope the book is written better than that. That was meandering and all over the place.
shergymrag…..
i’m profoundly sorry that you didn’t like that part of my scribbilings….in do way am i suggesting that your perspective is askew, but i would like the bulk of readers to “indulge” me…….i swear…..as absurd as all the digressions might appear (paragraph to paragraph), if you hang in there, you will see how it connects to the “whole”
IMPORTANT: i do not expect everyone who reads my book to agree with me, but i hope that everyone understands that it is my experience (to date) in interntional gymnastics, my opinions, and my perceptions of how i’ve experienced it……
one more thing:
SHERGYMRAG:………….you didn’t like my confession regarding my “criminal” record?…….
c’mon, who in ALL of gymnastics has openly confessed/admitted to THAT?
;->
Jim, for me, reading the story about your criminal record was kinda like having to watch the comedy act who performed before the Beatles when they made their debut on the Ed Sullivan show. They were funny but you could’a heard a pin drop in that studio. I was way more interested in the Bolivia part of the story.
I have a lot of gymnastics books but none from the perspective of a coach involved in multiple programs in developing countries. I would love to read those stories. I spent some time yesterday trying to figure out who you coached. That’s how I figured out that the guy who got the MAG wildcard for Beijing was one of your athletes. Way cool.
thanks Sher (another great 60’s icon)…..
if you get the book (and indulge my meanderings/asides, you’ll learn the inside scoop on the
2000 wildcard (Namibia) of which I was (more or less) responsible, and the
2004 wildcard (Bolivia) of whom i was, reasonably arguable, proximate cause…..
am i so wonderful?
my dogs think so…my gymnasts? well, you’ll have to ask them….
my wife Hannah? she sure as hell doesn’t think so and holds my feet to the fire…..
to find out the whole amazing story….get the book….
Sher…..
it’s r-e-a-l-l-y NOT about Jim Holt…..it’s about Impossible Dreams coming TRUE…..
honest.
Shergymrag:
one more thing….it’s not all nonsense…..when you get to the chapters on FIG Academy, et.al., i’d sincerely love to get your feedback…..
fireworks? you bet.
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