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6th July 2009

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Agents begin touting Olympic winners

21.08.08 Victoria Gallagher and Graeme Neill

Sports agents have begun trying to secure lucrative book deals for Team GB's successful Olympians after their unprecedented performance at the Beijing Games.

Agents have this week been sounding out publishers for deals for the likes of double-gold swimming champion Rebecca Adlington, medal-winning cyclist Victoria Pendleton and teenage diver Tom Daley.

Giles Elliott, sports editor at Transworld, said that since Ben Ainslie's gold medal win in sailing last Sunday, there have been agents trying to tout tie-in sports titles. "They have been going around trying to see what kind of interest there is," he said.

Tom Whiting, editorial director at Harper non-fiction, added: "There are a lot of agents who have come out of the woodwork. If they [athletes] haven't had agents before, then they will now."

Retailers have reported increased interest in sports titles, although BookScan recorded a drop in sales in this area last week, with bookshops caught in the blocks by the unexpected success of the games. Phil Edwards, senior buying manager at Gardners, said: "There's no doubt sales have picked up in the past week."

Publishers are now rushing though revisions of related titles. HarperCollins is planning to release an updated version of Richard Moore's book on the British cycle team, Heroes, Villains & Velodromes. "Our idea was to do the book and then see how things went at the Olympics," said Whiting. "We're planning to add an extra chapter on him winning gold."

Orion will publish double gold-medal-winning cyclist Bradley Wiggins' autobiography, In Pursuit of Glory, in October. It had predicted sales of 25,000, but Mark Rusher, trade marketing director at Orion, said it would sell "a lot more" now.

Yet some were cautious about prospective deals. "It's kind of a weird one," said Elliott. "You would think Olympic books would go well, but because historically they are minority sports, it's difficult."
Jonathan Harris of sports literary agency Luxton Harris explained: "There needs to be a good story [behind the success]."

Books published and forthcoming by gold-medal winners:

Jamie Staff/Jason Kenny/Chris Hoy—Heroes, Villains and Velodromes: Chris Hoy and Britain's Track Cycling Revolution by Richard Moore (HarperCollins, June 08). Three golds

Paul Goodison, Royal Yachting Association Laser Handbook (January 08). One gold

Ben Ainslie, The Laser Campaign Manual (John Wiley & Sons March 02). One gold

Nicole Cooke, Cycle For Life (Kyle Cathie, October 08). One gold

Bradley Wiggins, In Pursuit of Glory (Orion, October 08). Two golds

No books as yet:

Rebecca Adlington. Two golds

Tom James/Steve Williams/Pete Reed/Andy Hodge. One gold

Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb, Pippa Wilson. One gold

Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter. One gold

Rebecca Romero. One gold

Christine Ohuruogu. One gold.

Victoria Pendleton. One gold.

Athletes tipped to release books:

Rebecca Adlington. Two golds

Victoria Pendleton. One gold

Tom Daley. No medals

 

 

 

Graeme Neill Home sports books Victoria Gallagher Olympics News Victoria Gallagher and Graeme Neill