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A Boy in the Water

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A Boy in the Water

By: Tom Gregory
Narrated by: Tom Gregory
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About this listen

Penguin presents the audiobook edition of A Boy in the Water written and read by Tom Gregory.

Eltham, South London. 1984: the hot fug of the swimming pool and the slow splashing of a boy learning to swim but not yet wanting to take his foot off the bottom. Fast-forward four years. Photographers and family wait on the shingle beach as a boy in a bright orange hat and grease-smeared goggles swims the last few metres from France to England. He has been in the water for twelve agonizing hours, encouraged at each stroke by his coach, John Bullet, who has become a second father.

This is the story of a remarkable friendship between a coach and a boy, and a love letter to the intensity and freedom of childhood.

'Written beautifully through the eyes of a child yet to enter his teens, 'A Boy in the Water' resonated strongly taking me back to my own childhood. A fascinating story full of innocence, achievement, ambition and trust.' Ellen MacArthur

"I am absolutely in awe; a mindblowing and phenomenal feat. A Boy in the Water will challenge ideas of what is possible". Chrissie Wellington OBE

Charming and different; a lovely, brilliant memoir. What a boy! What a feat! - Victoria Derbyshire

 Coaching Sports Water Sports England Inspiring Heartfelt Swimming Memoir

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Critic reviews

Written beautifully through the eyes of a child yet to enter his teens, 'A Boy in the Water' resonated strongly taking me back to my own childhood. A fascinating story full of innocence, achievement, ambition and trust. (Ellen MacArthur, world record-breaker for the fastest solo circumnavigation of the globe)
His immersive, colourful writing takes the reader through a challenge that even the most experienced adult long-distance swimmers would balk at. The story keeps you gripped from the start, all the way to an unexpected and heart breaking twist towards the end.
Beautifully written . . . often heart-wrenching. (Jane Shilling)
I am absolutely in awe; a mind-blowing and phenomenal feat. A Boy in the Water will change ideas of what is possible (Chrissie Wellington, former professional triathlete and four-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion)
A compelling story of dedication and commitment. It'll make a great movie, but you should read the book first.
A Boy in the Water is a truly wonderful read of resilience, determination and courage. Whether you are interested in what it takes to be a Channel swimmer, or love a sport memoir, or simply like stories of our different experiences in the water, this book will win your heart. (Lexi Earl, The Outdoor Swimming Society)
A compelling account that serves above all as tribute to John Bullet, [Tom Gregory's] charismatic coach. (Nick Pitt, 'Best sports books of 2018')
This evocative memoir recounts an agonising, hallucination-filled swim across the English Channel in 1988, when Gregory was just 11 years old. (The Telegraph, '50 books that blew us away')
The gruelling, awe-inspiring feat is recounted with poignancy and affection here, and this becomes a thrilling and moving tribute to the joys and perils of open-water swimming, too. Gregory's devotion to his incredibly tough challenge is remarkable (Charlotte Runcie)
Charming and different; a lovely, brilliant memoir. What a boy! What a feat! (Victoria Derbyshire)
All stars
Most relevant
Just a charming tale, well told. An absence of malice or ego sets it apart from the mainstream.

Good all around

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The story is epic and yet heartwarming. The author’s narration puts a lot of professional readers to shame. Superb. I was right there with you..brrr.

Atta boy

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Great story, brilliantly told by the author. highly recommended. made me laugh out loud and cry

loved it, made me laugh and cry.

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would recommend this to others. touching and truthful. give it a go. something a bit different.

Moving true story! unexpected twist at the end.

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This book was recommended to me by Audible after I read another book about swimming. It is an incredible story set in a particular amateur era which probably doesn’t exist anymore, in which weekend Warriors and amateur clubs could take on mighty challenges, like the English Channel. At 11 years old!. It’s a lovely tribute to his crossing to his coach and to the sport of long-distance swimming

Unwise achievement well told

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