maddocks

Money Walks by Chris Maddocks

Athlete tells Olympic tale in autobiography

Five-times Olympian and Exeter alumnus Chris Maddocks has written a book about his experiences.

Chris was a race walker who took part in five consecutive summer Olympics. The first was in 1984 in Los Angeles and his last was the 50km event in the Sydney Olympics in 2000.

Chris (Law and Sociology 1986) competed at more Olympic Games than any other British man in history. He nearly competed in six, though was denied an earlier opportunity at the 1980 Games.

He started as a cross country runner and was planning to run marathons before embarking on his Olympic career. Now he details these and other experiences in his autobiography Money Walks.

Chris said: “In spite of record-breaking athletic performances, not all roads to the Olympics are paved with golden glory; five Olympics on a shoestring were tough, although there were lighter moments.

“Student life, arduous training schedules, worldwide travel, famous people, a world of sport where drugs and politics were intertwined are just a part of a story that culminates with a race of unexpected epic proportions and by fulfilment found in a quieter, more profound way."

For details about Money Walks, see www.racewalkuk.com/book/.

Date: 2 November 2012