The 100 Greatest Olympians and Paralympians celebrates the mighty achievements of 100 elite athletes from across the full range of Olympics and Paralympics disciplines. The Olympic Games is the most spectacular sporting event on the planet: a 2 and a half week extravaganza involving 205 countries competing in 26 sports under the animated gaze of two-thirds of the world's population. Sporting competition does not get any tougher than this. The 100 Greatest Olympians and Paralympians is a celebration of those who have not only reached the pinnacle of their respective sports, but whose feats mean their names will forever be inscribed in Olympic Games' lore. From the early superstars, such as Al Kraenzlein, who won four individual gold medals at Paris in 1900, to the Olympics' 21st-century headline-makers, such as Usain Bolt, who shattered the 100m world record in Beijing, this book recalls some of the greatest athletes who have ever lived. Each biography not only details the outstanding achievements of the athlete during the Games, but also records their magnificent careers. Lavishly illustrated, The 100 Greatest Olympians and Paralympians is a book for all true sports fans to treasure.