Risk! An Exploration Into the Lives of Athletes on the Edge

The author interviewed and studied the lives and chosen sport activity of 10 athletes at the top of their sport in order to learn about their motivation and how they handled the feat associated with their chosen sport (the "risk factor"). The qualifications for inclusion were that the athletes be American, alive, available to be interviewed, and extreme risk takers. He sought sportsmen rather than stuntsmen. He found that these athletes "report feeling intense rushes of exhilaration, even euphoria, when they break through the risk barrier" (p. xiii) and that for those athletes "who live to keep pushing the limits of the question is not so much "Why?" as "Why not?" Risk athletes see with their special vision the physical and psychological benefits they derive from their risk taking, and they can only wonder why everybody isn't out climbing rocks, paddling rivers, or skiing down mountains" (p. xiii).

The name of the athletes interviewed, and their sports, are as follows: John Bachar (rock climbing), Jon Lugbill (Whitewater racing), Dave Scott (triathlon), Ruth Anderson (marathon running), Kenny Roberts (motorcycle racing), Peter Hackett (mountain climbing), Jan Case (hang gliding), Rick Sylvester (parachute skiing), John Howard (bicycle riding) and Steve McKinney (downhill skiing).