--- product_id: 305919777 title: "Lost Olympics" price: "฿2207" currency: THB in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/305919777-lost-olympics store_origin: TH region: Thailand --- # Lost Olympics **Price:** ฿2207 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Lost Olympics - **How much does it cost?** ฿2207 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.th](https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/305919777-lost-olympics) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description This is a true story. What is the ultimate price of success? In 1924, swimming superstar Hilda James was a dead cert for the British Team at the Paris Olympics. Her family had other ideas. This is the account of a World Champion who suddenly found that her ultimate challenge was to pull her life back together after her dream was cruelly shattered forever. Hilda wasn't about to bow down to anybody and broke away, finally achieving full emancipation. A social history of life in South Liverpool plus the story of Parkgate Baths on The Wirral provide the early background for this extraordinary book. The final chapters are set against the backdrop of life as a celebrity crewmember aboard Cunard's first purpose built cruise liner, Carinthia. Review: The English Comet - what a woman! - From her first tentative schoolgirl dabblings in the often cloudy waters of Garston Baths down in the southern end of Liverpool, wearing a ghastly home-knitted swimsuit, to her glory days in the exclusive and rarefied world of Cunard's finest cruise ships, Hilda James emerges as a feisty and determined woman, ready to take hold of life with both hands and make the best of things. Her emerging swimming career was steadily guided by a supportive swimming club and a kindly, firm, old -fashioned coach who took her under his wing. These efforts were often thwarted by a harsh and less understanding regime at home. It's hard for us to imagine in these more enlightened times the importance placed on chaperonage and the power and physical harm of a thrashing with by a father with his leather belt, so prevalent in Hilda's youth. Yet she overcame these problems and rose to be a star of ladies' swimming. The polluted canal basin used for the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, choppy Atlantic waters at Brighton Beach in the USA, the murky tides of the Thames and the Seine, nothing put her off! She brought the new-fangled American Crawl stroke over to England after seeing for herself the speedy advantage it had given the US team in Belgium. This was to revolutionise free-style swimming. With her mastery of the style, she broke and held many records, and earned herself the nickname "The English Comet". In this well- written biography, Ian McAllister really conveys the excitement, glamour and changes in his grandmother's life, when after the age of 21, she gained the freedom to follow an independent career, free from parental constraints. With the confidence of the big names in the Cunard Shipping line behind her, she was encouraged to pioneer the field of on-board activity and entertainment. With her swimming teaching, games in the pool and on deck and even her popularising of crossword puzzles, Hilda proved herself to be a dynamic and popular member of the cruise boat crew. What destinations she enjoyed and how she relished the opportunities for swimming and sightseeing when in port! These travels led to a fine and lasting romance. Do read this book and be swept along by the swimming camaraderie, friendships and kindnesses from people in the most unexpected places. Marvel how Hilda made it through and wonder what might have happened to British swimming if she had been allowed to attend those Olympic Games in 1924. Review: Pioneering maritime woman - I love reading about this determined real woman. And I like the way her grandson wrote about her - simply. This iis a rather endearing story of maritime history and marine pioneeing, and of gender in sport. I recommend you read it. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | 2,876,062 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) 176 in Swimmer Biographies 1,029 in Fitness through Swimming 1,504 in Swimming & Diving | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 12 Reviews | ## Images ![Lost Olympics - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61dK13Q+60L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The English Comet - what a woman! *by B***R on 7 April 2013* From her first tentative schoolgirl dabblings in the often cloudy waters of Garston Baths down in the southern end of Liverpool, wearing a ghastly home-knitted swimsuit, to her glory days in the exclusive and rarefied world of Cunard's finest cruise ships, Hilda James emerges as a feisty and determined woman, ready to take hold of life with both hands and make the best of things. Her emerging swimming career was steadily guided by a supportive swimming club and a kindly, firm, old -fashioned coach who took her under his wing. These efforts were often thwarted by a harsh and less understanding regime at home. It's hard for us to imagine in these more enlightened times the importance placed on chaperonage and the power and physical harm of a thrashing with by a father with his leather belt, so prevalent in Hilda's youth. Yet she overcame these problems and rose to be a star of ladies' swimming. The polluted canal basin used for the 1920 Antwerp Olympics, choppy Atlantic waters at Brighton Beach in the USA, the murky tides of the Thames and the Seine, nothing put her off! She brought the new-fangled American Crawl stroke over to England after seeing for herself the speedy advantage it had given the US team in Belgium. This was to revolutionise free-style swimming. With her mastery of the style, she broke and held many records, and earned herself the nickname "The English Comet". In this well- written biography, Ian McAllister really conveys the excitement, glamour and changes in his grandmother's life, when after the age of 21, she gained the freedom to follow an independent career, free from parental constraints. With the confidence of the big names in the Cunard Shipping line behind her, she was encouraged to pioneer the field of on-board activity and entertainment. With her swimming teaching, games in the pool and on deck and even her popularising of crossword puzzles, Hilda proved herself to be a dynamic and popular member of the cruise boat crew. What destinations she enjoyed and how she relished the opportunities for swimming and sightseeing when in port! These travels led to a fine and lasting romance. Do read this book and be swept along by the swimming camaraderie, friendships and kindnesses from people in the most unexpected places. Marvel how Hilda made it through and wonder what might have happened to British swimming if she had been allowed to attend those Olympic Games in 1924. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Pioneering maritime woman *by D***Y on 24 November 2024* I love reading about this determined real woman. And I like the way her grandson wrote about her - simply. This iis a rather endearing story of maritime history and marine pioneeing, and of gender in sport. I recommend you read it. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Although I was aware that Hilda had been a good swimmer I had no idea how good and how ... *by M***S on 7 April 2018* found this book fascinating and well written. Had the pleasure of meeting Hilda James several times whilst married to her nephew David James. Although I was aware that Hilda had been a good swimmer I had no idea how good and how she overcame the difficulties of her family life. Well done Ian on writing a wonderful book. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/305919777-lost-olympics](https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/305919777-lost-olympics) --- *Product available on Desertcart Thailand* *Store origin: TH* *Last updated: 2026-07-07*