©2016 by Shirley Babashoff and Chris Epting
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Babashoff, Shirley, 1957- | Epting, Chris, 1961-
Title: Making waves: my journey to winning Olympic Gold and defeating the East German Doping Program / by Shirley Babashoff with Chris Epting; foreword by Donna de Varona.
Description: Solana Beach, CA: Santa Monica Press LLC, [2016] | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2016007635 (print) | LCCN 2016019549 (ebook) | ISBN 9781595808028 (ebooks)
Subjects: LCSH: Babashoff, Shirley, 1957- | Women swimmers--United States--Biography. | Olympics--History--20th century. | Doping in sports--History--Germany (East)
Classification: LCC GV838.B34 A3 2016 (print) | LCC GV838.B34 (ebook) | DDC
797.2/1092 [B] --dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016007635
Cover and interior design and production by Future Studio
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my teammates
from the 1976 Olympic Games:
Melissa Belote, Wendy Boglioli, Brenda Borgh,
Lelei Fonoimoana, Maryanne Graham, Jeanne Haney,
Janis Hape, Kathy Heddy, Jennifer Hooker, Linda Jezek,
Nicole Kramer, Renee Laravie, Renee Magee, Marcia Morey,
Kim Peyton, Lauri Siering, Miriam Smith, Jill Sterkel,
Karen Thornton, Tauna Vandeweghe, Wendy Weinberg,
Donna Lee Wennerstrom, and Camille Wright.
Contents
PREFACE by Mark Spitz
FOREWORD by Donna de Varona
INTRODUCTION
Chapter 1: Growing Up
Chapter 2: And So It Begins . . .
Chapter 3: My First Adventure
Chapter 4: A New Coach
Chapter 5: Munich
Chapter 6: Feeling Like a Celebrity
Chapter 7: What Happened to the East Germans?
Chapter 8: Skinsuits and a Mysterious Vaccine
Chapter 9: Swimming with the College Boys
Chapter 10: My Personal Best
Chapter 11: Training for ’76
Chapter 12: The Montreal Games
Chapter 13: Forming a Strategy
Chapter 14: The Final Race
Chapter 15: A National Disgrace
Chapter 16: Marriage
Chapter 17: The Charade Continues
Chapter 18: New Beginnings
Chapter 19: The Cheaters
Chapter 20: The Olympic Order
Chapter 21: The Truth Comes Out
Chapter 22: My Future Is Now
SHIRLEY BABASHOFF’S INDIVIDUAL WORLD AND AMERICAN RECORDS
AN OPEN LETTER TO THOMAS BACH, PRESIDENT OF THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE
WHAT THE 1976 OLYMPIC RECORDS WOULD LOOK LIKE IF THEY WERE REVISED
NOTES FROM COACHES JIM MONTRELLA AND MARK SCHUBERT
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
INDEX
PHOTO CREDITS
Preface
by Mark Spitz
Shirley, you gave all that you had to give. You saw it in your mind. You never turned away or quit. You sought, and you found. It was that power of your dreams, holding on to hope, that took you much higher.
Your destiny was not a matter of chance, but a matter of the choices you made. It wasn’t something that you waited around for, but rather achieved. You saw things that never were and said, “Why not?” You became a champion, you became a leader, you became you—a true Olympian. You lived for your tomorrows like only you could, with dignity.
So, we celebrate you, Shirley Babashoff, and your Olympic performances. The tradition goes on, a tradition that is more than two thousand years old. The call has been the same throughout history: Citius, Altius, Fortius. “Faster, Higher, Stronger.” It is the call that you took, and you inspired us with your talent, pride, dedication, and courage.
You stood on the victory podium with the finest in the world. You reached for that never-ending pursuit of excellence, and that is the way it should be. What you did has become the standard for generations not yet born. You achieved and excelled, and history has recorded it as the measure of your greatness.
We celebrate in tribute to you, Shirley, what you so richly earned. It is your time and turn to be recognized. Let this book renew your incredible success.
Your honored teammate and friend,
MARK SPITZ
1972 Olympian
Foreword
by Donna de Varona
Shirley