The sport of crew involves rowing a slim needle-shaped boat down a straight course on smooth water. Crew boats can hold between 2 and 9 persons and are notoriously tippy. Rowers face the the back of the boat and a nonrowing team member, the coxswain, faces forward steering and coordinating the pace and the rhythm of the rowers. He motivates and encourages the crew. Rowing crews are the epitome of strength, endurance, and teamwork.
The 1936 Olympics were held in Berlin, Germany, where Jesse Owens and Louis Zamperini won fame. Also at these Olympics was a 9-man rowing team from the University of Washington. Rather than Ivy League elites, this team was made up of poor youth who came from working-class families. Over 3 years, through hard work and determination, they nurtured an impossible dream—win gold at the Olympics.
On the day of the final race, one team member fell ill. They had learned to predict each other's moves so rather than break up their team and replace him with an alternate, they chose to include him saying, "Strap him in the boat and we'll pull him across the line." After an unfair placement in the race and a poor start, they came from behind broke the world record, and won Olympic gold.
Teamwork works!
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