To be a champion swimmer is almost impossible: you need to have natural athletic ability, preternatural mental toughness, a healthy dose of luck, and you need to stay largely injury free. It is no wonder, then, that there are very few men and women who have ever won Olympic gold in a swimming event.
Since they are so special, this book is dedicated to all of them.
It is also a geography trivia book: since achievement in any sport, and in water sports in particular, is tied very closely to the country of origin, this book tries to give you a dual appreciation of the achievement of the athlete, and of the country that they proudly represented.