THE WATERMEN

A biography of the first American swimmer to win an Olympic gold medal.

Loynd, a sports attorney and chairman of the St. Louis Olym­pic Committee, chronicles the life of Charlie Daniels (1885-1975), focusing on his journey to the Olympics. Daniels was born in Dayton, Ohio, to parents who hailed from prominent families in Buffalo, New York, at the time “one of the wealthiest per capita societies in the country.” Loynd sets the scene by describing the social expectations of the Gilded Age, and he describes Daniels’ struggles with anxiety, depression, and, as a young boy, criticism from his father. When his father abandoned Daniels and his mother, she chose to hide the news in order to avoid public shaming, which further contributed to her son’s anxiety. At the time, while “swimming’s popularity had exploded across the British Empire,” in the U.S., the activity “remained synonymous with indecency, the uncouth, and the poorest and dirtiest of society.” Daniels, however, thrived in the water. Despite the odds—and numerous disputes and a “trick” by the British—he continued to persevere. Daniels went on to invent the modern freestyle stroke, win America’s first gold medal in swimming, and set numerous speed records, and he became a role model for American boys and girls, inspiring them “to take to the water.” Though informative, the narrative feels disjointed, as the author frequently shifts focus with interwoven narratives of other swimmers and family members. Although their stories are important in their own rights, these lengthy digressions hamper the flow of the main story. Throughout, Loynd makes speculative comments regarding the thoughts and actions of various characters; the word perhaps appears far too often—e.g., “Perhaps Tom provided Charley with a bathing suit, but perhaps not, because nudity was common during the swim­ming hours reserved exclusively for men.” Still, the author creates an inspiring portrait of Daniels’ achievements.

An enjoyable underdog tale for swimmers and general sports fans.