“Night falls on the Olympic Village. Lights go out one by one. The
Olympic flame bounces alone in the cold, the only movement till
dawn. Or is it?”
It’s winter 2002 in Utah. In a remote laboratory, tucked in the snow-
covered foot-hills away from the Olympic Village, a team of scientists
are gearing up to do what few people think of as part of being a
scientist. These real-life crime fighters are out to catch cheaters.
“The Night Olympic Team” is a nonfiction true story of how a team
of UCLA scientists worked through the nights of the 2002 Salt Lake
City games to figure out which athletes, if any, were taking banned
drugs. The story shows in detail how the scientists came to arrive at
their conclusion: someone had indeed cheated.
All-night work sessions, secret meetings in the nearby wilderness
and racing with the clock were all part of what the team had to do in
order to catch the wrongdoers before the games were over.
The author not only tells how these science sleuths successfully
identified the dishonest athletes, but also gives readers an up-close
look at the history of doping in athletics, the health risks involved with
taking blood boosters and performance-enhancing drugs and how
and why athletes resort to using them.
This book is a must-read for young athletes. Photographs of the
Olympic Games and the scientists at work enhance an already
fascinating story. The book concludes with “Sports Smarts: Healthy
Ways to Enhance Performance” (tips for kids to compete in a healthy
Olympic flame bounces alone in the cold, the only movement till
dawn. Or is it?”
It’s winter 2002 in Utah. In a remote laboratory, tucked in the snow-
covered foot-hills away from the Olympic Village, a team of scientists
are gearing up to do what few people think of as part of being a
scientist. These real-life crime fighters are out to catch cheaters.
“The Night Olympic Team” is a nonfiction true story of how a team
of UCLA scientists worked through the nights of the 2002 Salt Lake
City games to figure out which athletes, if any, were taking banned
drugs. The story shows in detail how the scientists came to arrive at
their conclusion: someone had indeed cheated.
All-night work sessions, secret meetings in the nearby wilderness
and racing with the clock were all part of what the team had to do in
order to catch the wrongdoers before the games were over.
The author not only tells how these science sleuths successfully
identified the dishonest athletes, but also gives readers an up-close
look at the history of doping in athletics, the health risks involved with
taking blood boosters and performance-enhancing drugs and how
and why athletes resort to using them.
This book is a must-read for young athletes. Photographs of the
Olympic Games and the scientists at work enhance an already
fascinating story. The book concludes with “Sports Smarts: Healthy
Ways to Enhance Performance” (tips for kids to compete in a healthy
manner), a glossary of terms and an author’s note that discusses the ongoing debate about these drugs and the
legislation involving them.
In addition to being a best-selling children’s author, Dr. Caroline Hatton was a scientist at the UCLA Olympic Lab
and a member of “the night Olympic team.”
She has carefully created a story that addresses a mature and controversial topic in a clear, truthful and intriguing
manner for kids. You can learn more about her and her books at www.carolinehatton.com.
Terry Pierce is a children’s author who will be the speaker at the Ridge Writers meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 3
(public invited, admission free). Her latest book is “Blackberry Banquet” (Sylvan Dell Publishing). You can visit her
website at www.terrypiercebooks. com for more information.
This weekly column is presented by the Ridge Writers, the East Sierra Branch of the California Writers Club.
Meetings are held the first Wednesday evening of each month at High Desert Haven, and free programs are offered
throughout the year. Visit www.ridgenet. net/~curtdan/ridgewriters for information about upcoming programs and
membership.
legislation involving them.
In addition to being a best-selling children’s author, Dr. Caroline Hatton was a scientist at the UCLA Olympic Lab
and a member of “the night Olympic team.”
She has carefully created a story that addresses a mature and controversial topic in a clear, truthful and intriguing
manner for kids. You can learn more about her and her books at www.carolinehatton.com.
Terry Pierce is a children’s author who will be the speaker at the Ridge Writers meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 3
(public invited, admission free). Her latest book is “Blackberry Banquet” (Sylvan Dell Publishing). You can visit her
website at www.terrypiercebooks. com for more information.
This weekly column is presented by the Ridge Writers, the East Sierra Branch of the California Writers Club.
Meetings are held the first Wednesday evening of each month at High Desert Haven, and free programs are offered
throughout the year. Visit www.ridgenet. net/~curtdan/ridgewriters for information about upcoming programs and
membership.
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Current Issue Links
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| Book Review |
| Ridge Writers on Books ‘The Night Olympic Team’ By Dr. Caroline Hatton 56 pages, hardcover Middle-grade nonfiction |
| By TERRY PIERCE |
