Part I, Chapters 4-5 Summary and Analysis

Chapter 4 is entitled "Plundering Germany." Louis traveled with the rest of the Olympic athletes by steamer across the Atlantic. Louis was overwhelmed by the comparative luxury of the ship and the enormous amounts of food offered to the athletes. He gained several pounds on the trip.

This ocean crossing is an ironic counterpart to Louis' later raft journey in the Pacific, where he suffers from starvation.

In Berlin, Louis was intimidated by his competitors. The Finnish team, especially, looked very strong. In the qualifying race, the Finns took the lead. Louis managed to stay close to them, but when he got close, he was elbowed and spiked by the other runners, slowing him down and sending him back in the pack. Louis did not give up, however, and made up ground, running the final lap...