THREE KINGS Race, Class, and the Barrier-Breaking Rivals Who Redefined Sports and Launched the Modern Olympic Age

Edoardo Ballerini's perfect pacing and smooth delivery are worthy of the podium in this narrative about a little-remembered episode from the 1924 Paris Olympics. Author Todd Balf weaves together the stories of three very different men who faced each other in swimming's marquee event, the 100-meter freestyle: a Native Hawaiian who was already a legend in the water; a brash challenger from Chicago who would become a Hollywood star; and a mysterious teenager from Japan, a country that had never produced a swimming champion. The story is deeply researched, but there is perhaps too much extraneous background, and the production relies on Ballerini to keep the listener engaged with his unwavering tempo and tone. D.B. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2024]