Bronxville Native Writes Book About Journey to Enter the Summer Olympics

Back in late 2005, ESPN The Magazine editors asked—or rather, challenged—Bronxville native Kathryn Bertine to find a sport and qualify for the fast-approaching 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Her answer: yes. 

That challenge eventually turned into Bertine's second book "As Good As Gold," released by ESPN Books in May 2010.

Bertine, a lifelong athlete and writer, was on hand at Womrath Bookshop in Bronxville on Wednesday night to read and sign copies of her book, which chronicles, as the subtitle reads, "1 Woman, 9 Sports, 10 Countries, and a 2-Year Quest to Make the Summer Olympics."

While writing an online column for ESPN, Kathryn tried nine different sports, hoping to earn her way onto an Olympic team in time for the Beijing Games. 

"I don't believe in failure or rejection," Kathryn said, with a spirit of resolve and determination.

"As long is there is an attempt," she continued, "there is no failure." She explained that to her the act of trying is doing, the actual point of it all.

Though Bertine, who has progressed from figure skating to rowing to triathlons. is no doubt a serious athlete, her book is about more than just the sports she gives her all to—it's also about facing the challenges and choices of life with a spirit of acceptance and confidence.

When ESPN editors called Bertine with their unique assignment, she was at a turning point in her life: she had no job, no money and no clear direction. Having just cancelled a wedding and confronting the un-likelihood she could make a reasonable living as a professional triathlete, Bertine was looking for meaning and trying to find sure personal footing.

As she shuttled between the hospitality of friends and family, the invitation from ESPN came—just in time to let Bertine do exactly what she always wanted to do, she said, make her way back to sports and writing: her two great passions.

Bertine had a throng of supporters rooting her on at Womrath on Wednesday—her former ice skating buddies, her brother and her parents were all there. 

Her father, Pete Bertine, said he drove his daughter to ice skating practice every morning when she was young. He even competed with her in the forebodingly named triathlon Escape From Alcatraz.

Asked how he felt about his daughter and what she's accomplished he said, "You couldn't have a prouder papa than me."

Kathryn has contributed an essay about their relationship to the anthology Fathers & Daughters & Sports, also recently published by ESPN Books.