SKU: 84024941883

The Second Mark: Courage, Corruption, and the Battle for Olympic Gold

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Description

The Second Mark: Courage, Corruption, and the Battle for Olympic GoldIt was billed as the greatest event in the history of pair skating: three of the best teams of all time battling for Olympic gold on one night in Salt Lake City. Technical ability was approximately equal. It was the artistic merit score that would decide the gold medal the second mark. Representing Canada, China, and Russia, the three pairs illuminated their distinct cultures. On the second mark, whose culture would triumph? Would it be the beauty of

It was billed as the greatest event in the history of pair skating: three of the best teams of all time battling for Olympic gold on one night in Salt Lake City. Technical ability was approximately equal. It was the artistic merit score that would decide the gold medal -- the second mark.

Representing Canada, China, and Russia, the three pairs illuminated their distinct cultures. On the second mark, whose culture would triumph? Would it be the beauty of the Russians' ballet on ice, the thrill of the Chinese pair's heart-stopping acrobatics, or the Canadians' passionate connection with the audience? In a down-to-the-wire nail-biter, the difference between gold and silver came down to the vote of a single judge. Hours later, a bombshell: the confession of a French judge unleashed a worldwide debate -- and ultimately produced an unprecedented duplicate gold medal.

The Second Mark reveals what an athlete really goes through to become the best in the world, through the riveting stories of unforgettable people. We meet Yelena Berezhnaya of Russia, who survives emergency brain surgery after a near-fatal training accident and makes it back to the Olympics in less than two years. We meet Zhao Hongbo, a young boy skating in subzero weather in remotest China, who will fulfill his coach's twenty-year dream of catching up to the West. And we meet two Canadians, a barista and a concession stand worker, who had almost quit the sport before deciding to give it one last try -- and becoming world champions.

Exhaustively researched by a skating insider, The Second Mark takes readers deep into the world of the Olympic athlete, illuminating the fascinating differences between East and West. From the frozen fields of China to the secret corridors of the old Soviet sports system, from a tiny farm village in remotest Quebec to the judges' backstage world, The Second Mark tells the compelling human
stories behind one of the most controversial nights in Olympic history.

Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 09/24/2007
ISBN: 9781416578321
Pages: 352
Weight: 1.14lbs
Size: 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.79d
Accelerated Reader Quiz #/Name: 86238 / Second Mark: Courage, Corruption, and the Battle for Olympic Gold
Reading Level: 7.4 / Interest Level: Upper Grade / Point Value: 23
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SKU: 84024941883

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4.5 ★★★★★
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sharon
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
A fun interactive puzzle your dog will enjoy!
Color: Green
It's a fun interactive puzzle for your pet. I have a mini cockapoo and he mastered finding the treats on the first try. Then I made it more challenging for my dog and it took awhile for him to master it. My dog never got bored or gave in. He seemed to like the challenge of finding all his treats. Fun and challenging puzzle!
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Reviewed in the United States on May 24, 2026
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AH
San Leandro, US
★★★★★ 5
Great teeth cleaning toy
Style: Gator, Size: Large (Pack of 1)
I bought this for my pit bull. He is 75-80lbs. They didn't have an option for his weight, so I got the alligator for up to 35lbs. He has already chewed the alligator's face off. Now it is just an analgator. lol I do monitor him the whole time since he is over the weight limit of this chew toy. The body of the alligator has proven to be better suited for my pit bull's chewing than the face part. I bought an Arm & Hammer yellow bone chew toy for teeth cleaning a while back. It was the BEST THING EVER for my pit bull to chew on. He destroys every toy in a matter of minutes. That yellow bone lasted forever and he chewed on it daily and consistently throughout the day. I haven't been able to find another one like it, so I decided to get this alligator despite it not being for his size. It still seems durable and I think would last longer with a dog under 35lbs. I give it 5 stars bc it is a well-liked chew toy in my house with the dogs I have that like to chew. It seems well-made and great for cleaning teeth.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 26, 2023
J
Verified Purchase
Jean
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great for aggressive chewers
Style: Gorilla, Size: Small (Pack of 1)
My little Corgi is an aggressive chewer. She has destroyed quite a few toys that were advertised for chewers. When I received this toy I had little confidence but it has lasted unscathed. Aside from being sturdy it also bounces so we play ball with it. It is one of her favorite toys.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2026
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Nicole K
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 4
Strong and Great for Treats, but Heavier Than Expected
Style: Gorilla, Size: Small (Pack of 1), Style: Gorilla, Size: Small (Pack of 1)
This is a very durable and well-made chew toy with good overall quality. The material is thick rubber and holds up well to chewing. It also works very well for holding treats, which stay in place securely. The main drawback is the weight. My dog is about 30 pounds, and even though this is a smaller version, it is still fairly heavy. She tends to use it mainly to get the treats out and then loses interest afterward. What I like: Very durable material Works great for holding treats Good bounce and quality construction Cute design Things to be aware of: Heavier than expected Some treats may be difficult to insert Dogs may lose interest once treats are gone Overall: This is a solid treat-based toy that is built well, but the weight may limit how much some dogs interact with it beyond treat use.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2026
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JS
Carnegie, US
★★★★★ 5
Extremely tough!
Style: Gorilla, Size: Large (Pack of 1)
These are seriously so much better (and cheaper) than any other supposedly "strong/durable" type toy like this. We have 70lb very strong chewers and they chew through everything. Can not have stuffies. They do eventually chew through but it seriously takes awhile. Especially in comparison to other brands. I will say it says "recommended for dogs under 35lbs" but I also work for houses where I recommended these for their dogs which were smaller and they wouldn't chew on because too tough. But they also accidentally bought the large which is what I buy my big dogs. So the large is GREAT for big dogs. If you have a dog under 35lbs I'd get the size small. Also .... says you can stuff treats. You really can't. Which my dogs don't need. They just love to chew on. I call it their bubble gum because when they FINALLY get a chunk off(which again takes awhile.... as in over a week) they will fling the pieces into the air and chew on like a piece of bubble gum lol... they love it! I don't notice a difference in breath or anything but I don't use the toothpaste either. I just bought to see if tough and they are!! And again price is clearly so much better. I hate spending $20+ on a toy they destroy in a day.
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Reviewed in the United States on December 30, 2023

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