Gold

Gold (2012), a contemporary sports novel by Chris Cleave, follows two women who train together for the London 2012 Olympics, finding their seemingly unshakable friendship tested in numerous challenging ways. The book received widespread praise from critics for its detailed exploration of redemption, marriage, and friendship. Cleave is a New York Times bestselling British writer. Before writing novels, he studied experimental psychology at Balliol College, Oxford. He’s best known for his debut novel, Incendiary, which was shortlisted for the 2006 Commonwealth Writers’ Prize and is now a motion picture.

Zoe Castle and Kate Meadows meet when they are selected to join the national track cycling program in England. Zoe is adventurous and daring, while Kate is sensible and reliable. Despite their very different personalities, they become best friends, inspiring each other to succeed. They never let their rivalry interfere with their friendship—at least, that’s the plan.

When the book begins, Zoe is racing at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. In the cycling final, if she wins, she will be officially the best cyclist in the world. Although she can’t wait to race, a part of her wishes that Kate could be there, too. Her coach, Tom, reminds her that Kate chose to give up her cycling dream. They might be best friends, but they’re on separate paths now. Knowing that Tom is right, Zoe gives the final her best shot.



Meanwhile, back in England, Kate sits down to watch the cycling final, but there is a power cut. Though sorry to miss Zoe’s race, she is more depressed that she is not the one racing in the final. She recently had a baby girl, Sophie, and she wasn’t ready for the 2004 Games. Although she loves Sophie, she misses being out on the track. She plans to get back in the saddle in time for Beijing in 2008.

After introducing the characters back in 2004, Gold jumps forward to 2012, when both women plan to race at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Both Kate and Zoe know they have what it takes to win the gold medal. Kate, however, has more than just a gold medal to worry about. Sophie has recently been diagnosed with leukemia. It’s the second time she has battled the disease; she almost died the first time.

Kate doesn’t want to neglect her daughter during her chemotherapy, but she knows that she will never win the gold medal if she doesn’t focus on her training. This is her last Olympic Games; if she doesn’t win gold this time, she never will. Sophie is old enough to understand Kate’s passion for cycling. She feels bad for taking Kate’s attention away from the track. To cope with Kate’s absence, Sophie turns her cancer into a fantasy world.



She pretends that she is the Death Star from Star Wars and that her white blood cells are Stormtroopers hellbent on destroying her. She imagines herself battling alongside the rebels and winning the day. This fantasy is the only way she copes with the reality that she might not survive the cancer this time.

Meanwhile, Zoe reflects on her own situation. Unlike Kate, she doesn’t have a family to worry about. She is free to focus solely on the track. Unfortunately, Zoe doesn’t have anything else in her life. Although she is popular in the media and everyone idolizes her, she doesn’t have any real friends or companions. Lonely, she knows that, even if she wins the gold, she doesn’t have anyone to share it with.

Zoe regrets losing touch with Kate over the years. They were inseparable once, but now, it is as if they barely know each other. The only advantage of losing Kate’s friendship is that it is easier to compete for the gold medal. Like Kate, Zoe only has one more chance to compete at the international level, and if she loses the race, she will end her career on a sour note.



Everything falls apart for the women when Zoe makes a startling admission. She once had an affair with Jack, Kate’s partner. It happened when the women were still best friends. Unable to believe that Zoe betrayed her like this, Kate is more determined than ever to win the final race.

When race day arrives, Sophie is hospitalized. Jack asks Sophie if she wants her mother at the hospital, but all she wants is for Kate to win. Jack decides not to tell Kate about Sophie because she won’t race and it is her last shot at glory. He knows that she deserves an hour that belongs to her, and her alone, without worrying about other people.

During the race, Kate crashes. She can only watch as Zoe cycles ahead. Zoe, however, has a change of heart. She decides that her friendship with Kate is more important than winning the race. Kate forgives Zoe for the affair and they decide to work on their friendship again. Once Sophie recovers from leukemia, Zoe offers to be her cycling coach.