<div dir="ltr"><div>All,</div><div>Please find below and attached David Atkinson's review of Filbert Bayi's <i>Catch me if you can.</i></div><div>Thanks,</div><div>Duncan</div><div><br></div><div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">Filbert Bayi. <i>Catch Me If You Can</i>.<span> </span>Flagstaff: Soulstice Publishing, 2022.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align:justify;margin:0in 0in 8pt;line-height:107%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:107%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">Reviewed by David Atkinson, MacEwan University<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">By any
standard, Filbert Bayi was an extraordinary athlete, one of a very select few
to hold the world record for both 1,500 meters and the mile at the same time. The
son of a cowherder in Karatu, a small village in Tanganyika, who lost his
father while very young, Bayi’s story is one of courage and perseverance as he
climbed to the highest level of athletic achievement. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">But
Bayi’s new autobiography <i>Catch Me If You Can</i> begins and ends in an
unsettling way.<span> </span>In the Preface, Bayi
allows that while his world records were “ground breaking at the time,” they
are “rarely discussed now” (xv). This sense of disappointment is repeated again
when he notes how “I am not in the World Athletics Hall of Fame” (193) because,
as we learn, he does not have the two Olympic or World Championship gold medals
necessary for this recognition.<span> </span>And it
remains a dream for him that he might be named a member of the International
Olympic Committee. <span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">A
candid assessment suggests there is some truth to what Bayi says although he
has no wish to sound like”an aggrieved, embittered old man” (194), and he is
grateful for having lived, in his words, “a blessed life” (194). Bayi’s
autobiography is a long overdue reminder of his contribution to athletics and
to how he transformed middle distance running from a wait and sprint activity
to one of running from the front. <span> </span>Bayi
broke the world record for 1,500 meters having “run every step of the way in
front” (63) in what was characterized as the greatest 1,500 meters of all
time.<span> </span>He did it again in what was called
the “Dream Mile,” when, again leading “wire to wire” (101), he broke Jim Ryun’s
world mile record by a tenth of a second. <span> </span><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">Whether
Bayi was the first runner to set a brutal pace and lead from the front—one
might get disagreement from Prefontaine fans or even John Landy fans—his
autobiography has put in stark relief what some see as the artificiality of the
current Golden League where every race has a pacer.<span> </span>Bayi is candid in his criticism of pacers even
if he appreciates the athletic accomplishment of those who use them. If one
calls an event a race, then, in Bayi’s words, “the introduction of pacers went
against the fundamental rule that all athletes at the starting line must be
trying to win” (132). <span> </span><span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">Regrettably,
Bayi never got his Olympic Gold medal, not because he was not fast enough, but
because events transpired against him. He was an inexperienced 19-year old in his
first Olympics in Munich, did not run in Montreal because of the African
boycott, and in what might be considered a questionable decision chose to run
the 3,000 meter steeplechase rather than the 1,500 meters in Moscow. Running from
the front, Bayi, an inexperienced steeplechaser, was caught by the Polish
runner Malinowski on the final water jump and ended up with the silver medal.<span> </span>One cannot help sharing his disappointment but
Bayi accepts his defeat with grace as he observes how “It’s easy to forget to
breathe in all that life offers” (149)<span> </span>and
<span> </span>to <span> </span>“forget to take in the joy when it comes to
us” (151). <span> </span>Indeed, grace is a good word
to describe Bayi who takes defeat with the same spirit of generosity as he does
victory.<span> </span>Hoping to get the medal that
eluded him in the 3,000 meter steeplechase, Bayi at the age 31, got as far as
the Olympic Village in Los Angeles before shin splints prevented him from
running. Bayi mentions his withdrawal from the Games without comment. While he
thought it was his best opportunity for a gold medal, he expresses neither
disappointment nor bitterness.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">The
book provides fascinating details of Bayi’s races with all the big names of his
time, especially Marty Liquori and Eamonn Coghlan.<span> </span>Bayi did not win every race, and he admits
when he is not at his best. Running against New Zealander John Walker, the gold
medal winner in Montreal, takes on special significance, and we come away with
an appreciation of their special relationship which has lasted a lifetime, We also
learn something of his relationship with Ron Davis who was for a time Bayi’s
coach, someone he calls “a brother” and on whom Bayi relied for guidance and
support.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">As Bayi
got older, and recognized that his athletics career was coming to an end, he made
the conscious decision to return to school, first at Eastern New Mexico
University, and then at the University of Texas El Paso.<span> </span>Bayi was one of a group of African runners
recruited to UTEP, which between 1974 and 1982 under coach Ted Banks dominated
college running in the United States.<span>
</span>That this practice was controversial is well known, and the NCAA, in a
direct response to the Banks’ practice, changed its eligibility rules.<span> </span>Bayi, having been there, might have commented
more than he does although it should not be overlooked how much Bayi valued his
degree.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">In
many ways, Bayi’s running career was a prelude to his life after running, as he
and his wife Anna redirected their energies towards building their country and
supporting young people. In 1996, they started a school that provided
instruction in Swahili, which from a very modest beginning grew to its current
size of 1,200 students on two campuses.<span>
</span>It is obvious that the school has provided immense satisfaction to Bayi,
perhaps even more than his running achievements. Bayi has not, moreover, given
up entirely on athletics. He remains passionate about building athletics in
Tanzania and he has worked tirelessly in many different roles although, once
again, there is a feeling that Bayi feels unappreciated.<span> </span>As he remarks, “With all due respect to the
high-level administrators out there, my duties on technical committees through
the years gave me just as much pride” (187).<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">As
much as Bayi’s autobiography is a good read and one that tells us much about an
athlete who has perhaps been ignored, one would have liked to have a little more
than Bayi gives us.<span> </span>While we learn much
about his personal life and on how running impacted his life and gave him
immense satisfaction and pleasure, he never really talks about running other
than as an athletic activity. <span> </span>Rarely do
we get underneath to appreciate how Bayi actually feels about running. At the
same time, Bayi is unequivocal in his assertion that three things shaped his
life both as an athlete and as a man: “confidence, sacrifice, and commitment” (207).
<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:150%;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif" lang="EN-CA">It is,
of course, unfortunate that every runner’s autobiography is inevitably compared
to Bannister’s <i>The First Four Minutes </i>(1955), and later his <i>Twin
Tracks</i> (2014), which possess an eloquence and lyricism few other comparable
books do. But putting this aside, we leave Bayi’s book impressed with his
honesty and gratitude for what life has offered him even if we remain a little
sad that the goal of an Olympic gold medal eluded him.<span> </span>Perhaps this book will remind those that make
these decisions that Bayi does belong in the World Athletics Hall of Fame and
maybe the rules should be changed. And indeed, he should be considered for a
seat on the IOC.<span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in 0in 0.0001pt;text-align:justify;line-height:150%;font-size:11pt;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif"><span lang="EN-CA"><span> </span></span></p>
</div><div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature">Remember to smell the roses as you recumber past<br><br>Duncan R. Jamieson, Ph. D.<br>Professor of History<br>Book Review Editor<br><i>AETHLON: The Journal of Sport Literature</i><br>Ashland University<br>Ashland, OH 44805<br>USAtkinson<br></div></div></div></div>