Dimensions
176 x 213 x 27mm
The definitive biography of Australia's most enigmatic and controversial athletics coach.
Percy Cerutty is mostly remembered as the coach who mentored John Landy in his quest to break the four-minute mile, and trained Herb Elliot to win gold at the 1960 Rome Olympics. He was a pioneer in his theories on diet and fitness, and became a popular folk hero sought out by politicians, artists and thinker of the day for his philosophies on life, the war, women and society.
Less well known is the Percy Cerutty who suffered poor health throughout his youth. At 44, when he was told that he would not live for much longer if he did not change his lifestyle, Percy embarked on a personal transformation that would lead to an international revolution in sports science and athletics training techniques.
This dramatic, engaging and often uplifting story recounts the life of this extraordinary man and the events of the Golden Era of Australian athletics. Why Die? includes previously unpublished letters, essays and personal writings of Percy Cerutty, as well as anecdotes and reminiscences from many of the key figures of his time. It is compelling reading for athletes and sports enthusiasts alike.
