The Boys In The Boat: Were They Really Late?

The Boys in the Boat is a 2023 biographical sports drama directed by George Clooney, based on the 2013 book of the same name by Daniel James Brown. The film chronicles the journey of the University of Washington rowing team, from their humble beginnings during the Great Depression to their triumph at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where they won a gold medal. The story focuses on Joe Rantz, a poor engineering student who joins the rowing team to secure a job and boarding. The film received mixed reviews, with critics praising its inspirational message but noting its traditional approach and pacing issues.

The boys' humble beginnings

The boys in the boat had humble beginnings, with most of them coming from poor backgrounds. Joe Rantz, the main character in the film, was a poor engineering student at the University of Washington. He lived in an abandoned car, ate canned food, and struggled to pay his tuition fees. Similarly, Roger Morris, another team member, was also a struggling student. The rowing team provided them with jobs and boarding, which was a huge relief for Joe and Roger. Joe also started dating Joyce, who he would later marry.

Joe had a difficult childhood, with his mother dying when he was very young and his father abandoning him when he was fourteen. He was forced to fend for himself at a young age and put himself through school. Despite these challenges, Joe worked hard and was eventually accepted into the University of Washington, where he joined the rowing team.

The rowing team itself also had humble beginnings. The University of Washington's rowing program didn't offer scholarships, and they didn't have as much money as other competitive schools. However, they were able to pay their rowers, which was attractive to team members like Joe Rantz during the Great Depression. The team also faced challenges when it came to funding their trip to the Olympics. The US Olympic Committee was short on funds, so the team had to raise $5,000 (equivalent to $110,000 in 2023) to pay for their travel. They worked together with the community to raise the money and make their Olympic dreams a reality.

The boys in the boat overcame their humble beginnings through hard work and determination. They trained tirelessly, often mopping floors for tuition, and their dedication paid off as they went on to win the gold medal at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin. Their victory was a true embodiment of the American Dream, as they overcame adversity and beat the odds to achieve glory on the world stage.

The hardships they faced

The boys in the 1936 University of Washington rowing team faced many hardships, both in their personal lives and in their sporting careers.

Financial Hardship

The boys came from poor backgrounds, with families who were struggling to make a living. The rowers themselves were often unemployed and relied on the rowing team to provide them with part-time jobs. Joe Rantz, the main character in the film, was a poor engineering student, living in an abandoned car and eating canned food. He had no job and faced tuition fees. Joining the rowing team was a way for him and the other boys to stay in school.

Family Issues

Rantz's story is one of abandonment and fractured family relationships. His birth mother died when he was three or four, and he was abandoned by his father and stepmother as a teenager. He was treated abusively by his stepmother, and his father did not stand up for him. Rantz's girlfriend, Joyce, also features in the film, and they often ate out of soup kitchens or had simple dates, such as picnics.

Health Issues

Don Hume, one of the rowers, worked in a pulp mill as a child, and his lungs were damaged by the fumes. He fell ill with a respiratory illness just before the Olympics and was not in peak condition. Hume was included in the boat at the last minute, after the other boys went to the coach and demanded it.

Time Constraints

The film also compresses the timeline of the team's journey, which took three years in real life, into one year. This meant that the boys had less time to train and prepare for the Olympics.

Competition

The boys were also up against tough competition, racing against elite schools on the East Coast and, at the Olympics, against the British boats, whose rowers had grown up in the sport.

Political Climate

Finally, the boys faced the challenge of competing in Nazi Germany, where the Berlin Olympics was being used as a massive propaganda tool by Hitler to conceal the cruelties of his regime.

Their journey to the Olympics

The University of Washington rowing team's journey to the 1936 Olympics began a few years before the games. The team was made up of young men from poor backgrounds, many of whom were struggling to afford their college fees. Joining the rowing team was a way for them to stay in school.

In the film, Joe Rantz, a poor engineering student, is told that joining the rowing team comes with jobs and boarding. He and his teammate Roger Morris are happy just to have a dorm room and steady food.

The team trains together, trying to get their rowing "swing" in sync with a fast pace. However, their coach Al Ulbrickson worries that they are not fast enough for the Olympics. He decides to bring back Bobby Moch, an experienced but headstrong coxswain, warning him to follow orders or be out.

At the Pacific Coast Regatta on Lake Washington, UW and Cal race two miles in front of 100,000 fans. Bobby calls a fast pace and pulls off a course-record win. The rowers become campus stars.

Ahead of the four-mile Poughkeepsie Regatta in New York, for a berth in the Olympics, Al risks his job by promoting the JVs above his experienced varsity boat. Joe performs badly in New York practice and is benched. However, he is encouraged by George Pocock, a racing-shell builder, not to quit. Joe agrees with Al that it’s all about the boat, the only thing he has.

On race day, Bobby is told by Al to start slowly and then kick mid-race to 35 strokes per minute. Bobby starts at 28 and holds it past mid-race, then coaxes 36, with a 40-stroke finish to lead UW to upset Navy, Cal, and the other privileged eastern schools.

The US Olympic Committee is short on funds, so the team needs to raise $5,000 (equivalent to $110,000 in 2023) to pay for their travel, otherwise a richer team will go. The team and community raise the money, and they sail for Berlin.

In Berlin, eighth-seat rower Don Hume falls sick. At the opening ceremony, Roger tells Jesse Owens to show the Germans that he's the fastest guy in the world. Owens replies, "not the Germans, the folks back home". The team then sets an Olympic record in the qualifier, but it takes a toll on Hume.

Al protests about the lane assignments, but realizes he’ll have calm water at the end, so he calls for a fast start to stay close to the German team, with a big kick to finish. Hitler attends the finals, expecting his team to win. Bobby starts badly, with Hume struggling early; nonetheless, Bobby coaxes Hume and the crew to 42 strokes per minute to get within reach, then calls for 46 with 300 meters to go. The US wins the gold in a photo finish over Italy and Germany.

The 1936 Olympics

The University of Washington rowing team's win was a significant moment in American sports history, and their story has been immortalised in Daniel James Brown's bestselling book, "The Boys in the Boat," and the subsequent film directed by George Clooney.

Their legacy

The legacy of the boys in the boat is one of determination, teamwork, and resilience. Their story has inspired generations of athletes and showcased the power of the human spirit in overcoming adversity.

The University of Washington rowing team, also known as "The Boys in the Boat," overcame tremendous odds to achieve their dream of winning an Olympic gold medal in 1936. They represented the American Dream, rising from poverty and hardship to become champions. Their journey began during the Great Depression, a time when many Americans struggled to survive. The team members were from humble backgrounds, with most of them coming from working-class families. They joined the rowing team not only for their passion for the sport but also as a means to earn money and continue their education.

The team's success was not limited to their Olympic victory. They also left a lasting impact on their community and the sport of rowing. The gold medal win put Seattle and the University of Washington on the map, bringing recognition to a city that was previously considered a small logging town. The rowers became local heroes, inspiring future generations of athletes and students.

The boys in the boat also broke down social barriers and united a nation during a time of economic hardship. Their win was not just about personal glory but also about representing their country on the world stage. In a time when the nation was looking for positive stories, their underdog victory against elite schools captured the hearts of Americans.

The legacy of the boys in the boat extends beyond their athletic achievements. It is a testament to the power of teamwork, perseverance, and unity. Their story has been immortalized through Daniel James Brown's bestselling book and the subsequent film directed by George Clooney. The book and the film have brought their story to an even wider audience, inspiring people around the world and showcasing the impact that a group of determined individuals can have.

The boys in the boat have left a lasting legacy not just in the world of sports but also in the hearts and minds of those who have been inspired by their story. Their triumph over adversity and their ability to come together as a team will forever be remembered.

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