What is the theme in The Amateurs by David Halberstam?

The development of athletes is another theme in this book. In addition to the performance of the sport, there is also the saga for each participant. The author delves relatively deeply into the life stories of a few of the main characters. One asset of this is that he reveals the stories of how each of them developed. Halberstam also shows readers part of the development of some of the sport's greatest coaches. There is little to no explanation given for how rowers are "made." However, the author shows that different cultures take a different attitude towards this.