SKU: 84024941883

The Second Mark: Courage, Corruption, and the Battle for Olympic Gold

Sale price$17.56 Regular price$19.51
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $4.88 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 25 - Jul 30

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

The Second Mark: Courage, Corruption, and the Battle for Olympic GoldIt was billed as the greatest event in the history of pair skating: three of the best teams of all time battling for Olympic gold on one night in Salt Lake City. Technical ability was approximately equal. It was the artistic merit score that would decide the gold medal the second mark. Representing Canada, China, and Russia, the three pairs illuminated their distinct cultures. On the second mark, whose culture would triumph? Would it be the beauty of

It was billed as the greatest event in the history of pair skating: three of the best teams of all time battling for Olympic gold on one night in Salt Lake City. Technical ability was approximately equal. It was the artistic merit score that would decide the gold medal -- the second mark.

Representing Canada, China, and Russia, the three pairs illuminated their distinct cultures. On the second mark, whose culture would triumph? Would it be the beauty of the Russians' ballet on ice, the thrill of the Chinese pair's heart-stopping acrobatics, or the Canadians' passionate connection with the audience? In a down-to-the-wire nail-biter, the difference between gold and silver came down to the vote of a single judge. Hours later, a bombshell: the confession of a French judge unleashed a worldwide debate -- and ultimately produced an unprecedented duplicate gold medal.

The Second Mark reveals what an athlete really goes through to become the best in the world, through the riveting stories of unforgettable people. We meet Yelena Berezhnaya of Russia, who survives emergency brain surgery after a near-fatal training accident and makes it back to the Olympics in less than two years. We meet Zhao Hongbo, a young boy skating in subzero weather in remotest China, who will fulfill his coach's twenty-year dream of catching up to the West. And we meet two Canadians, a barista and a concession stand worker, who had almost quit the sport before deciding to give it one last try -- and becoming world champions.

Exhaustively researched by a skating insider, The Second Mark takes readers deep into the world of the Olympic athlete, illuminating the fascinating differences between East and West. From the frozen fields of China to the secret corridors of the old Soviet sports system, from a tiny farm village in remotest Quebec to the judges' backstage world, The Second Mark tells the compelling human
stories behind one of the most controversial nights in Olympic history.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 09/24/2007
ISBN: 9781416578321
Pages: 352
Weight: 1.14lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.79d
Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 86238 / Second Mark: Courage, Corruption, and the Battle for Olympic Gold
Reading Level: 7.4 / Interest Level: Upper Grade / Point Value: 23
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 84024941883

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.7 ★★★★★
Based on 10 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
S
Scrappy Rat Reviews
Draper, US
★★★★★ 4
The Holliday but make it sapphic
Format: Paperback
Ok, sapphic twist on The Holiday was just what I needed. I loved all the sweet little details between the couples and all the family drama. June and Tatum swap homes with Eleanor and leave their small town for a big adventure in New York, hoping to sell June's perfume business. Tatum needs to escape her family, and wouldn't you know it, she has always had a huge crush on June. Eleanor needs to get out of New York stat when she finds out her fling is actually engaged, she gets fired from her job, and she is just an all-around mess. She jumps at the chance to swap homes and for a girl with a lot of romantic issues, meeting Tatum's sibling Carson is quite the distraction. In New York, Eleanor's neighbor Dawn is an old famous actress, and she was one of my favorite characters. She was full of life but needed to be reminded how much of a badass she is. June and Tatum are able to get her to be social while she forces them to evaluate what is holding them back. My second favorite character is Carson. The romance between them and Eleanor was so swoony, and I felt like they are the kind of person you want to orbit because being near them would make you happy. I think them as a couple was the best part of the book, and the way Eleanor gets to join in on the crazy family reunion Tatum has to skip out on. Tatum was probably the hardest character for me to love. They felt extremely juvenile for their age, and I kept thinking she was 18-20, only to be reminded she was an adult almost in their 30s. I also felt a little less invested in her love story with June and while I liked them both fine, Carson and Eleanor were top tier for me. If you are looking for a romcom with heart, this one will check those boxes.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2025
A
Ann S
Los Angeles, US
★★★★★ 5
this book made a "graphic novel" fan of me
Format: Hardcover
I'm not generally a fan of "graphic novels" (what do you call a graphic biography?), but I purchased this one after attending a bookstore talk with author Guy Delisle. Wow! The visual format is an ideal medium to provide the technological context for Muybridge's story. I was already well familiar with his work and contributions, thanks to Rebecca Solnit's, "River of Shadows." But Delisle does a brilliant and charming job of rendering the evolution of photography and its impact on society. I hope Delisle takes on more historic subjects in the future.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 4, 2025
M
Verified Purchase
Matthew M
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
No texture issues
Scent: Hair Styler (1 Pack)
I’ve never been one to like hair product because I don’t like how they make my hair feel “crunchy” or overly stiff. However, this kind provides a nice, loose hold that doesn’t make my hair feel weird. If you can spare the extra few dollars and don’t need a strong hold, I would recommend this!
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 15, 2025
R
Verified Purchase
Rocky George
Cuba, US
★★★★★ 5
Better than any hair cream available today.
Scent: Hair Styler (1 Pack)
I have been using the HURON hair product for nearly ten months. A great product that is modestly priced. I apply the product on my hair after showering. The best thing about the product iis it’s crangrance free and it is not greasy or sticky. My hair combs beautifully after applying.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024
M
Verified Purchase
MAXWELL LEPER
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 4
Not greasy
Scent: Hair Styler (1 Pack)
Not greasy
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2025

recommand products