The Boys In The Boat: A Nonfiction Adventure

The Boys in the Boat is a non-fiction novel by Daniel James Brown, published in 2013. It tells the true story of the University of Washington rowing team and their journey to compete at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. The book centres around Joe Rantz, a young man who overcomes a difficult childhood to earn a place on the rowing team and win gold at the Olympics. The novel explores the personal struggles and sacrifices made by the team, as well as the historical context of the Great Depression and the rise of Nazi Germany.

Joe Rantz's personal story

Joseph Harry Rantz (1914-2007) was born in Spokane, Washington, and had a difficult childhood in Boulder City, Idaho, and later, Sequim, Washington. His mother, Nellie Maxwell, died of throat cancer when he was four years old. His father, Harry Rantz, remarried in 1921, but Rantz did not get along with his stepmother, Thula LaFollete, who already had four younger children to care for. As a result, from the age of 15, Rantz was left to fend for himself in an unfinished house abandoned by his father and stepmother. He attended Roosevelt High School, where he took up gymnastics and excelled as an athlete.

After graduating, Rantz took a gap year to work and save money for college. He enrolled at the University of Washington, where he caught the attention of crew coach Al Ulbrickson, who recognised his potential as a rower. Rantz supported himself through college and the Great Depression by taking on gruelling physical jobs. He also used his athletic abilities to stay in school, joining the rowing team and competing in the University of Washington senior varsity eights, which won US national Intercollegiate Rowing Association titles in 1936 and 1937, as well as the sophomore eight of 1935 and freshman eight of 1934.

Rantz's personal struggles and determination to succeed despite adversity are central to the narrative of "The Boys in the Boat," with his life story serving as a compelling backdrop to the book's main focus on the University of Washington rowing team's journey to the 1936 Olympics. Rantz's experiences with poverty and abandonment during the Great Depression are woven into the story, adding depth and emotion to the account of the team's triumphs and sacrifices.

In addition to his athletic achievements, Rantz also earned a chemical engineering degree from the University of Washington. After graduating in 1939, he married his girlfriend, Joyce Simdars, and they moved to Seattle, where they had five children. Rantz worked for Boeing for 35 years after retiring from rowing, contributing to the invention of the cleanroom. He died in Redmond, Washington, at the age of 93.

The 1936 Olympic Games

The University of Washington's rowing team, comprised of nine working-class boys, represented the United States in the men's eight-oared rowing event. They included Roger Morris, Charles Day, Gordon Adam, John White, Jim "Stub" McMillin, George "Shorty" Hunt, Joe Rantz, Don Hume, and Bob Moch, coxswain. They beat Italy and Germany to win the gold medal.

The boys from Washington faced numerous challenges, including financial difficulties due to the Great Depression. Rowing was a way for them to stay in school, as the university provided part-time jobs to team members. Their victory put Seattle on the map and gave hope to Americans struggling through the Great Depression.

The story of the University of Washington's gold medal-winning crew has inspired a bestselling book, "The Boys in the Boat" by Daniel James Brown, and a film directed by George Clooney, which is set to be released in December 2023.

Nazi Germany

The non-fiction novel, "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics", written by Daniel James Brown, is based on the true story of the University of Washington rowing team's journey to compete at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Nazi Germany. The novel centres around Joe Rantz, a member of the rowing team who came from a humble, working-class background and faced various struggles, including poverty and abandonment during the Great Depression.

The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin, and there was a movement in the United States and Europe to boycott the games due to the oppression and persecution of German Jews and other minority communities by the Nazi regime. However, the games went ahead as planned, and they became known as the Nazi Olympics. Adolf Hitler, who was fully in control of Nazi Germany at this time, intended to use the Olympics as a showcase for the supposed racial superiority of the 'Aryan Race'. The Nazi regime temporarily halted its anti-Semitic campaigns and hid evidence of its harsh and inhumane treatment of Jews and minorities to win worldwide applause for the games.

The University of Washington rowing team, comprised of young men from working-class backgrounds, faced numerous obstacles on their path to the Olympics. They had to learn the intricacies of synchronised rowing and push themselves physically and mentally to their limits. The novel describes how they navigated these challenges and ultimately achieved victory, narrowly beating the Italian and German teams to win the gold medal.

The success of the University of Washington rowing team, along with other American athletes like Jesse Owens, undermined some of Hitler's claims of racial superiority. However, the 1936 Olympic Games also served to cement Hitler's status as a leader among Germans, which partly led to the Holocaust and World War II.

The University of Washington rowing team

The team was made up of nine working-class boys who, despite their youth and relative inexperience, managed to defeat more established and government-sponsored teams from around the world. They were sophomores and juniors from the University of Washington in Seattle, and their victory brought them national fame. The book describes how the boys had to struggle to earn their way through school during the Great Depression, providing a personal element to the story of their triumph in Berlin.

The University of Washington's rowing team has a rich history, with the old ASUW Shell House, built in 1918, serving as their training centre for decades. The Shell House was originally designed as a naval seaplane hangar during World War I but was given to the university for $1 after the war ended. In 1922, it became the work site of renowned boat builder George Pocock, who crafted the racing shells used by the team for decades. The team's victory in Berlin can be attributed not only to their skill and determination but also to the speed and structure of Pocock's hand-built racing shells.

The art of rowing

Rowing is an art that requires a combination of skills, knowledge, and creativity. It involves manoeuvring gear safely and gracefully down the river, working with the water rather than against it. This demands a sense of harmony and "swing", where rowers move in synchrony, "swinging" as one through the complex motions of their stroke to maximise the drive of the blades through the water.

Rowing is a challenging sport that demands a lot of practice and strength. It is a full-body workout that targets the arms, back, and legs. The technique involves using oars to propel a boat through the water, with the rowers pulling against the water to generate power and momentum. The oars act as levers, and the boat provides resistance, creating a challenging workout that can be both rewarding and meditative.

To master the art of rowing, one must develop muscle memory and a sense of balance. It is important to be able to read the water and make quick decisions to navigate rapids and currents. This involves understanding the current's speed and direction and knowing how to use it to your advantage. Additionally, proper technique and strategy are crucial, such as maintaining proper form and knowing when to increase or decrease the stroke rate.

Rowing also requires teamwork and synchronisation. Rowers must work together, responding to the commands of the coxswain, who acts as the leader and strategist. The coxswain communicates with the stroke, or lead oarsman, to coordinate the team's movements and ensure they are in sync.

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