As the end of the 19^th century approached, Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s creative impulses turned him to fiction—and he wrote the only novel of his life.  In 1899, he finished Le Roman d’un Rallié (A Novel of A Rallie) under the pseudonym of Georges Hohrod.  It is a coming of age story of a young aristocrat who rallies to the Third Republic of France.  It is also in part a thinly veiled autobiography.  The protagonist finds the truth of life in the lessons of sport—as Pierre himself did.  This passage is certainly telling in that regard.

“Life is simple, because struggle is simple. A good fighter pulls back, but does not give up. He yields, but he never gives in. When faced with the impossible, he changes course and goes ahead. If his breath gives out, he rests and he waits. If he has been knocked out of the fight, he encourages his brothers with his words and his presence. Even when everything comes tumbling down around him, he never despairs.”