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These Heavy Black Bones

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These Heavy Black Bones

By: Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell
Narrated by: Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell
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WINNER OF THE CHARLES TYRWHITT SPORTS BOOK AWARDS
SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR
SHORTLISTED FOR THE HATCHARDS AND BIOGRAPHERS' CLUB FIRST BIOGRAPHY PRIZE

'Poetic, candid and utterly compelling' - FREYA BROMLEY
'Absolutely remarkable' - LYNN BARBER
'Reads with the tension of a thriller, illuminating the world of elite sport' - CATHY RENTZENBRINK
'An embodied water odyssey' - LIDIA YUKNAVITCH

This is not a story about making history.

Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell was once a double British Champion and the first Black woman ever to swim for Great Britain. As her body and mind are sharpened through gruelling training, press scrutiny and the harshness of adolescence, Rebecca charts her career’s ascent and her singular love of the water, before explaining why she walked away from it all.

A compulsive and unforgettable study of intensity, These Heavy Black Bones meditates on Blackness, identity and the ecstasy of peak physical performance, and lays bare the pressures within the swimming world.

 Best of 2024 Sports Water Sports Swimming
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Critic reviews

"[These Heavy Black Bones] documents the dedication demanded of a young athlete; the sacrifice and strain that comes with competing at the highest of levels. It's vulnerable and exposing"
"What a book! Rebecca is such a brilliant writer and These Heavy Black Bones reads with the tension of a thriller, illuminating the world of elite sport, both the struggle and sacrifice. A feast in every way: for the intellect and the senses, so very visceral" (CATHY RENTZENBRINK)
"Absolutely remarkable. There can’t be many top athletes who are also top writers and so devastatingly honest. It is truly unique" (LYNN BARBER)
"In a searing new memoir, former champion swimmer Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell reveals the true cost of excellence"
"Not often do I read a story where the writer loves and inhabits water deeply enough to change her life forever. Rebecca Achieng Ajulu-Bushell's These Heavy Black Bones is an embodied water odyssey from a fellow writer, athlete and aquanaut, a woman who shreds both the competition at the highest levels as well as the structures that hold up white systems of oppression. A decolonisation of body and voice. A love song to water and what it takes to self-liberate" (LIDIA YUKNAVITCH)
"As a teenage swimmer, Ajulu-Bushell realized that being exceptional came with a cost. Struggling with the pressure she felt to succeed in a predominately white sport, she quit while training for the 2012 Olympics"
"Speaks about the intensity of training and the pressure of often being the only Black woman poolside"
"A moving, open memoir which made me admire Rebecca even more than I did before" (PIPPA VOSPER)
"Poetic, candid and utterly compelling - I was ready to follow Rebecca’s writing wherever it flowed. This book is a true tide of courage!" (FREYA BROMLEY)
All stars
Most relevant
I enjoyed learning about the athletes journey. I could relate to the Olympics because I libbers in Stratford

The reality

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This is high quality writing. It's eye opening and quite a hard read, but there are some inspiring moments in there. The description of the perfect race is outstanding. Rebecca narrates it herself and her matter of fact, slightly world weary style fits perfectly. Ultimately I came away feeling a bit depressed but I learnt something and I'm glad I listened to it.

Tough read but worth it

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I was transfixed by Achieng’s personal account of the rigorous training routines and pressures of competitive swimming. The insights into her experiences at her school and her relationships with her coaches and friends is often
emotional and complex. Achieng’s view of herself and the reflections on her own race were fascinating. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Loneliness and sacrifice

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Such a well written and enlightening book. Really allowed me to understand the highs and lows that Rebecca went through during her swimming career. I really felt the emotion in her writting and how challenging periods of her life have been too. Would totally recommend this book to anyone. One of the best books that I’ve listened to.

Incredibly well written and a fascinating listen.

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