Australian Honor Swimmer, Michelle Ford-Eriksson MBE, who was inducted into ISHOF in 1994, has recently written a new book, Turning the Tide, with foreword by IOC President Thomas Bach. The book was written by an Olympic gold medalist whose achievement was even more remarkable in an era rife with doping and politics, and who later successfully fought for gender equality, and the athletes voice in the Olympic Movement; at the heart of the story is the ultimate achievement of winning an Olympic
medal.
Set against the politics of the Cold War, the Olympic boycotts of Moscow in 1980 and Los Angeles in 1984 and the emergence of systematic, state-sponsored doping, this was a time of great upheaval within the Olympic Movement.
Turning the Tide is a first-hand account of Michelle Ford-Eriksson’s life in the Olympic realm during one of the most turbulent times in sporting history. One of Australia’s greatest swimmers, Michelle’s story reads more like a spy novel than an athlete’s road to an Olympic gold medal. As a young athlete from the beaches of Sydney, Australia, Michelle had a dream, but to reach that dream, she had to compete against misogyny, boycotts, doping and even death threats.
The Olympic boycotts stripped thousands of young athletes of their Olympic dream. The scars are still raw for those who participated, as well as those who didn’t. The boycott reinforced that the athletes played no part in the administration of sport.
“We were voiceless,” Michelle explains in the book, looking back at her extraordinary career. “We felt we were treated as insignificant pawns by the political machinery. We wanted a seat at the table, the right to self-determination, the right to inclusion and equality. We wanted our voice, the athletes’ voice, to be heard.”
Turning the Tide is the first book written about this era from an athlete’s perspective, covering the narrative of a young teenager’s journey and the thematic discussions about East German doping and the destructive influence of sporting bureaucracy. It lays bare the struggles and battles that still haunt many young athletes.
Today, the international Olympic Committee loudly pronounces that “athletes are the centre of the Olympic Games,” but many still feel the anguish of past events, seeing history repeating itself.
With Paris 2024 upon us, and Los Angeles, and Brisbane around the corner, much has changed, but much has also stayed the same, just going by another name. Michelle’s hope is that the lessons of the past may open a discussion of this period, to allow a healing for those who lived it, and that Turning the Tide can be manifesto for change.
You can read Ford’s book, by purchasing it on AMAZON.COM
REVIEWS:
“A significant contribution to Olympic history. A must read.” Anita de Frantz, IOC Member, ex-Senior Vice President of the IOC and Chair of the Women and Sport Commission
“An important read for all athletes!” Claudia Bokel, ex-Chair, IOC Athletes’ Commission and Member IOC Executive Board
“Michelle Ford’s book, Turning the Tide, is a valuable and insightful recollection of her years as an upcoming and elite athlete. What she had to endure, and what she overcame, is definitely inspiring. Her stories are crisp, clear and accurate, and should provide food for thought or anyone interested in the value and future of sport.” John Naber, Olympic Champion, Broadcaster and Author
“Reading Turning the Tide brought back many memories of the 1980 Olympics and the boycott, and rekindled my admiration for Michelle and her colleagues who travelled to compete in Moscow. It is a great reminder to anyone that the path to success is often laden with obstacles, and I am thrilled that Michelle has pledged to use her voice to advocate for swimmers who were denied opportunities due to doping and boycotts. Let this story be a lesson that politics and drugs have no place in sport. Congratulations Michelle on another wonderful achievement! Tracy Stockwell OAM (née Caulkins), Olympic and World Champion swimmer
Even though we were involved in a different sport, Michelle Ford was a role model and inspiration to
me for her achievements, dedication and resilience. They are all important traits in the Olympic journey
and this book tells a wonderful tale that I hope all young aspiring athletes and swimmers will read.
Cathy Freeman OAM, Olympic and World Champion 400m athlete
About Michelle Ford-Eriksson MBE
Michelle Ford-Eriksson MBE is one of Australia’s greatest swimmers, winner of the gold and
bronze medals at the Moscow 1980 Olympic Games, dual world record holder and multiple
Commonwealth Games medalist. She is a University of Southern California ‘USC’ graduate
with a Masters in Sports Psychology and a bachelor’s degree in business communication. She
has held directorships at the Australian Sports Commission, Australian Sports Foundation, and
Swimming Australia. She was a member of the first IOC Athletes Commission, Australia’s first
member of the Commission, alongside the current IOC President, Thomas Bach, and Sebastian
Coe, President World Athletics.
Title: Turning the Tide
Author: Michelle Ford MBE with Craig Lord
ISBN: 978-1-925914-92-4
Subject: Memoir, Sport, Olympics, Swimming, Olympian, Gold Medalist
Available in paperback and as an e-book from www.fairplaypublishing.com.au, Amazon, and more.