Forgotten Sport:
How Angolan Rowing Vanished and Rose Again
Forgotten Sport chronicles the revival of rowing in Angola. Once popular during colonial times, a decades-long civil war and communism led to the sport vanishing entirely from the national conscience. That was until André and his Angolan teammate, Jean-Luc, brought it back. The book follows these two rowers’ improbable journey and how it culminated with their participation in the Rio 2016 Olympics. Forgotten Sport ties their story with Angola’s history and provides unique insights into the mindset of an Olympian, the joys of rowing, and why it captivates people.
About the Co-Author
David Cox is a columnist for The Guardian and a regular contributor to The New York Times. He also writes for the Financial Times, BBC, NBC, and Vice. David earned his Ph.D from Cambridge University in 2017. He can be contacted at dcwriter89@gmail.com
Excerpts
"Edgar told me about the last regatta in Angola in January 1975. He had been a very strong rower. Before his family moved to Luanda in 1972, Edgar had been a junior national champion in Portugal. In Angola, he was never beaten. But at that final competition, no one could focus on rowing. Everyone was anxious, talking about the situation in the country and what might happen. After that last regatta, he never saw his three teammates again and he never found out what happened to them. Local 'bandits' smashed up the rowing club and stole everything that they could possibly sell on the streets. Edgar and his parents moved houses three times, but each time the neighborhood became dangerous within days or weeks. Every day, planes were landing in Luanda to take people back to Portugal. Edgar's parents lost everything they owned. He himself never rowed again.”
