Gold from Iron, Nick Baumgartner
Gold from Iron, Nick Baumgartner
List: $22.95 | Sale: $16.07
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Gold from Iron
A Humble Beginning, Olympic Dreams, and the Power in Getting Back Up

Author: Nick Baumgartner

Narrator: Dan Bittner

Unabridged: 7 hr 27 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/02/2024


Synopsis

A daring and improbable story of Olympic gold from blue-collar originsEvery summer in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, Nick Baumgartner went to work pouring concrete, taking on the harsh physical conditions of the construction trade to support his professional snowboarding dreams come winter. To limit travel time while he trained for the Olympics an hour and a half away from home, he lived out of a crusty, old construction van, parked anywhere he could find a spot.And in 2022, after seventeen years of failure—all the crashes, injuries, and personal setbacks—he won Olympic gold at forty years old, becoming the oldest Olympic snowboard medalist in history.In this candid and affable memoir, Baumgartner details his journey from a one-stoplight town to the podium in Beijing. Tales of crisscrossing the globe on the racing circuit and competing in four Olympic Games sit comfortably alongside Baumgartner’s reflections as a single parent and his affectionate portrayal of Iron River, Michigan, the community that raised him. More than just a sports story, Gold from Iron is a tale of massive dreams, constant sacrifice, and the lessons that can be learned racing down an ice-covered course on a carbon fiber board.

About Nick Baumgartner

Nick Baumgartner is an Olympic gold medalist snowboarder from Iron River, Michigan. He has competed in four Olympics and earned his first gold medal at the age of forty in the 2022 Beijing games when he and teammate Lindsey Jacobellis won the inaugural Olympic mixed snowboard cross race.

About Dan Bittner

Dan Bittner is an actor and voice talent and winner of several AudioFile Earphones Awards for audio narration. He has starred on stage and on the screen, in movies such as Men in Black, Adventureland, and the Producers: The Movie Musical. He has also appeared onstage as Macbeth and Sherlock Holmes in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.

About Jeff Seidel

Jeff Seidel has been a journalist for more than thirty years, specializing in narrative stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. His work has appeared in USA Today, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, and the the Chicago Tribune. For the past ten years, Seidel has been a sports columnist at the Detroit Free Press.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Kari on January 20, 2024

I couldn’t put this book down. I have always loved, and been inspired and intrigued by Olympic athletes. Everyone has their own story - and Nick’s is both unique and epic. Written in a true Yooper voice (being from northeast WI and having a cabin the the UP, I’m familiar) and with all the humor, gri......more

Goodreads review by Jayme on January 10, 2024

I enjoyed reading this memoir by Olympic snowboarder Nick Baumgartner. I absolutely love watching the Olympics and am fascinated by the stories of the amazing athletes who compete in these games. The writing in this book is somewhat unpolished and rough around the edges, but I suppose that is fittin......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on January 08, 2024

Though I do not specifically remember watching Nick Baumgartner win gold at the 2022 Winter Olympics, I am pretty sure that I did because whenever the Olympics are on, I am glued to the tv. Most sports I care little about, but the Olympics are my favorite. I am also quick to read any books written b......more

Goodreads review by Rachel on September 22, 2024

A great book around Nick's life, Reading through as many Winter Olympic sport books prior to 2026's Winter Olympics. Nick's life was such a roller coaster with such an amazing support system. Listening to him want to inspire even more is so awesome. I found it interesting that the book wasn't narrat......more

Goodreads review by Joe on December 16, 2024

I found this to be a wonderful book. Baumgartner is funny, sincere, and has a powerful story. Every small town athlete who dreams big should read this book. Teddy Roosevelt would approve as his Man In the Arena quote fits Baumgartner, "who spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, i......more


Quotes

“Dan Bittner delivers this captivating story of determination and perseverance…Bittner ensures that listeners will feel Baumgartner’s willpower, focus, and excitement during his seventeen years of training…[until] Baumgartner achieves his dream of winning gold.” AudioFile

“Nick is incredible. His journey to Olympic gold at forty is nothing short of amazing. Like him, his story is funny, heartwarming, and inspiring.” Michael Phelps, most decorated all-time US Olympian with 28 medals

“Nick Baumgartner is a living example of determination and perseverance. He won an Olympic gold medal at forty years old, funding his dream by working construction and pouring cement. A humble hero!” Tony Hawk, professional skateboarder and entrepreneur