Louis Zamperini's Life Quotes
Running For His Life
Essay Topic 4: Discuss the role that running had in Louis Zamperini’s life. Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand is a biography about Louis Zamperini and his journey in life. The novel takes the reader through Louis’ childhood, his running career, his stay in Japanese POW camps, and his later life. His track career and his time in the Olympics had a major effect on him by getting him out of trouble when he was younger, saving his life, causing him depression, and allowing him to meet influential people. From the time Louis starting running it would impact him for until he died. As a young boy, Louis Zamperini was constantly getting in trouble. He would often times steal food from people, although he was not very talented …show more content…
at it and he was frequently caught. Louis started to get into more trouble, and at one point he was almost suspended for trying to sneak a few people in a basketball game. His older brother, Pete convinced him to join the track team, thus stifling his more rebellious streak. Louis excelled in track, although he hated running. He lived for the crowd’s applause, and that was the reason he stayed. He beat his high school’s record for the mile, at an astonishing 4:21:3.
After beating records at his school for track, Louis sets his sights a little higher and began to train for the Olympics. He obsessed over the training, afraid that he would fail. Louis almost won the Compton Open, and even though the radio says that he did, they were wrong. The judges had actually decided that in the photo finish Louis was slightly behind in second. Regardless, Louis still made the team as the youngest distance runner to do so. He packed his bags and boarded the Manhattan, a luxury steam to German for the Olympics. In the Olympic Village Louis meets famous and influential people such as young Hitler and Jesse Owens. The Fins were aggressive during the race, throwing elbows and punches at Louis, but he learned to persevere when the odds were against him. He remembers his family and his brother who would be disappointed if he did poorly. Regardless of those trying to hinder him, Louis beat the record for the fastest final lap at 56 seconds. Hitler congratulated Louis saying, “Ah, you’re the boy with the fast finish.” He pushed himself hard, and although he did not come in first place he knew that he preserved through all the obstacles placed in front of him and tried his hardest. After the Olympics were over, the Olympics Village became barracks for the solders during WWII.
Louis began to train for the Japan Olympics, but they were cancelled due to the war and he became part of the military. Time goes by and his plane goes down and the men are stranded in the middle of the ocean. Eventually they find land, but they are taken to a POW camp. When they arrive at the camp, the Japanese know of Louis’ fame in running, but they initially don’t treat him any differently. His life is spared, because they figure that they could use him as a propaganda tool. During his time in POW camps, he is asked to race against different people. In the first race, he races against a civilian and won. The man was unhappy and in turn beat him on the head with a club. His proficiency in running at this point did not help him stay safe, but instead hurt him. The second time he raced however did help Louis. He was asked to throw the race, and if he did he would win two rice balls. This small amount of food helped Louis not starve as much as he had been. The life in the camp was tough for Louis, but his running ability did help him in multiple points, even if the outcome was small. Not only did they help him get out of sticky situations, it also helped his morality. Through his running career he had to persevere, and that is exactly was he had to learn to do in the
camps. When Louis finally returns home he is told by the doctors that because of the time he spent malnourished and torture, he would never run competitively again. Louis acknowledges the sad truth on pg. 323, “’It’s finished,’ [Louie] said, his voice sharp, ‘I’ll never run again.’” Due to the sadness of the news, Louis fell into depression, alcoholism, and his PTSD grew worse. Soon after he returns back home, Louis does find comfort in a new love, Cynthia. Two weeks after being together, the two wanted to marry even though Cynthia’s parents did not approve. To win over her parent’s approval, Louis began to train once again for the Olympics. He pushes his body hard that is until he injures his ankle again. At that point he truly realizes that he won’t ever run again. He would never compete in the Olympics again, but they did grant the athlete the honor of carrying the Olympic five times. His love for running took a toll on his mental and physical health, but his forever passion did allow him joy even if it was just carrying the torch in the Olympics rather competing in it.
Essay Topic 4: Discuss the role that running had in Louis Zamperini’s life. Unbroken, by Laura Hillenbrand is a biography about Louis Zamperini and his journey in life. The novel takes the reader through Louis’ childhood, his running career, his stay in Japanese POW camps, and his later life. His track career and his time in the Olympics had a major effect on him by getting him out of trouble when he was younger, saving his life, causing him depression, and allowing him to meet influential people. From the time Louis starting running it would impact him for until he died. As a young boy, Louis Zamperini was constantly getting in trouble. He would often times steal food from people, although he was not very talented …show more content…
at it and he was frequently caught. Louis started to get into more trouble, and at one point he was almost suspended for trying to sneak a few people in a basketball game. His older brother, Pete convinced him to join the track team, thus stifling his more rebellious streak. Louis excelled in track, although he hated running. He lived for the crowd’s applause, and that was the reason he stayed. He beat his high school’s record for the mile, at an astonishing 4:21:3.
After beating records at his school for track, Louis sets his sights a little higher and began to train for the Olympics. He obsessed over the training, afraid that he would fail. Louis almost won the Compton Open, and even though the radio says that he did, they were wrong. The judges had actually decided that in the photo finish Louis was slightly behind in second. Regardless, Louis still made the team as the youngest distance runner to do so. He packed his bags and boarded the Manhattan, a luxury steam to German for the Olympics. In the Olympic Village Louis meets famous and influential people such as young Hitler and Jesse Owens. The Fins were aggressive during the race, throwing elbows and punches at Louis, but he learned to persevere when the odds were against him. He remembers his family and his brother who would be disappointed if he did poorly. Regardless of those trying to hinder him, Louis beat the record for the fastest final lap at 56 seconds. Hitler congratulated Louis saying, “Ah, you’re the boy with the fast finish.” He pushed himself hard, and although he did not come in first place he knew that he preserved through all the obstacles placed in front of him and tried his hardest. After the Olympics were over, the Olympics Village became barracks for the solders during WWII.
Louis began to train for the Japan Olympics, but they were cancelled due to the war and he became part of the military. Time goes by and his plane goes down and the men are stranded in the middle of the ocean. Eventually they find land, but they are taken to a POW camp. When they arrive at the camp, the Japanese know of Louis’ fame in running, but they initially don’t treat him any differently. His life is spared, because they figure that they could use him as a propaganda tool. During his time in POW camps, he is asked to race against different people. In the first race, he races against a civilian and won. The man was unhappy and in turn beat him on the head with a club. His proficiency in running at this point did not help him stay safe, but instead hurt him. The second time he raced however did help Louis. He was asked to throw the race, and if he did he would win two rice balls. This small amount of food helped Louis not starve as much as he had been. The life in the camp was tough for Louis, but his running ability did help him in multiple points, even if the outcome was small. Not only did they help him get out of sticky situations, it also helped his morality. Through his running career he had to persevere, and that is exactly was he had to learn to do in the
camps. When Louis finally returns home he is told by the doctors that because of the time he spent malnourished and torture, he would never run competitively again. Louis acknowledges the sad truth on pg. 323, “’It’s finished,’ [Louie] said, his voice sharp, ‘I’ll never run again.’” Due to the sadness of the news, Louis fell into depression, alcoholism, and his PTSD grew worse. Soon after he returns back home, Louis does find comfort in a new love, Cynthia. Two weeks after being together, the two wanted to marry even though Cynthia’s parents did not approve. To win over her parent’s approval, Louis began to train once again for the Olympics. He pushes his body hard that is until he injures his ankle again. At that point he truly realizes that he won’t ever run again. He would never compete in the Olympics again, but they did grant the athlete the honor of carrying the Olympic five times. His love for running took a toll on his mental and physical health, but his forever passion did allow him joy even if it was just carrying the torch in the Olympics rather competing in it.