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Gold from Iron
- Author
- Nick Baumgartner
- Narrator
- Dan Bittner
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Publish Date
- 2 April 2024
- Run Time
- 7 hours 28 minutes
- Format
- Audiobook
- Genre
- Memoirs, Biography: sport, Winter sports
What to expect
A daring and improbable story of Olympic gold from blue-collar origins
Every summer in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Nick Baumgartner went to work pouring concrete, taking on the harsh physical conditions of the construction trade to support his professional snowboarding dreams come winter. To limit travel time while he trained for the Olympics an hour and a half away from home, he lived out of a crusty, old construction van, parked anywhere he could find a spot.
And in 2022, after seventeen years of failure—all the crashes, injuries, and personal setbacks—he won Olympic gold at forty years old, becoming the oldest Olympic snowboard medalist in history.
In this candid and affable memoir, Baumgartner details his journey from a one-stoplight town to the podium in Beijing. Tales of crisscrossing the globe on the racing circuit and competing in four Olympic Games sit comfortably alongside Baumgartner’s reflections as a single parent and his affectionate portrayal of Iron River, Michigan, the community that raised him.
More than just a sports story, Gold from Iron is a tale of massive dreams, constant sacrifice, and the lessons that can be learned racing down an ice-covered course on a carbon fiber board.
Critics Review
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“Dan Bittner delivers this captivating story of determination and perseverance…Bittner ensures that listeners will feel Baumgartner’s willpower, focus, and excitement during his seventeen years of training…[until] Baumgartner achieves his dream of winning gold.”
AudioFile
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“Nick is incredible. His journey to Olympic gold at forty is nothing short of amazing. Like him, his story is funny, heartwarming, and inspiring.”
Michael Phelps, most decorated all-time US Olympian with 28 medals
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“Nick Baumgartner is a living example of determination and perseverance. He won an Olympic gold medal at forty years old, funding his dream by working construction and pouring cement. A humble hero!”
Tony Hawk, professional skateboarder and entrepreneur
User Reviews
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Details
- Author
- Nick Baumgartner
- Narrator
- Dan Bittner
- Duration
- 7 hours 28 minutes
- Release Date
- 2 April 2024
- ISBN
- 9798874692681
- Format
- Audiobook
- Publisher
- Blackstone Publishing
- Genre
- Memoirs, Biography: sport, Winter sports
Synopsis
A daring and improbable story of Olympic gold from blue-collar originsEvery summer in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Nick Baumgartner went to work pouring concrete, taking on the harsh physical conditions of the construction trade to support his professional snowboarding dreams come winter. To limit travel time while he trained for the Olympics an hour and a half away from home, he lived out of a crusty, old construction van, parked anywhere he could find a spot.And in 2022, after seventeen years of failure—all the crashes, injuries, and personal setbacks—he won Olympic gold at forty years old, becoming the oldest Olympic snowboard medalist in history.In this candid and affable memoir, Baumgartner details his journey from a one-stoplight town to the podium in Beijing. Tales of crisscrossing the globe on the racing circuit and competing in four Olympic Games sit comfortably alongside Baumgartner’s reflections as a single parent and his affectionate portrayal of Iron River, Michigan, the community that raised him. More than just a sports story, Gold from Iron is a tale of massive dreams, constant sacrifice, and the lessons that can be learned racing down an ice-covered course on a carbon fiber board.
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