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Joe is born in Spokane, Washington to Nellie and Harry Rantz.
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After the death of his first wife Nellie due to scarlet fever, Harry Rantz marries Thelma LaFollette. Thelma's twin sister, Thula is Fred's (Harry's other son) wife, so there is a very big age difference.
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Joe's expanding new family moves to Boulder City, a mining camp in Idaho. Though Thula is unhappy with the conditions, 9-year-old Joe loves exploring and spends much of his time outside. Joe and Thula's relationship gets exceedingly more strained. (date may not be exact)
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The Rantz's move to a new home in Sequim, Washington. Joe develops a passion for music and meets a new friend in Joyce Simdars. Then, Thula, fed up with the way her life is going, insists that the family moves away but leaves Joe in Sequim. 12 years old, Joe is left to fend for himself.
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Joe begins college at Washington University in Seattle. Joyce, now Joe's significant other, also comes to that area to be with Joe and pursue her academic dreams. (date may not be exact)
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Joe Rantz, along with the other future freshman crew, take part in the rowing crew. Many sign up for the prestige, not expecting lots of work, and others (including Joe), are looking for improved scholarship opportunities. The freshman row surprisingly well.
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Joe is assigned a position on the crew (2nd boat, 3rd seat), along with his freshman friends Roger Morris and Shorty Hunt, among others.
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Joe is promoted to the first boat.
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As rowing starts back up again, the training sessions are even harder. The varsity boat struggles, but the freshman do surprisingly well (occasionally better than the varsity). The freshman win even win a race against their rival California on April 13.
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Joe and the Washington crew impressively defeats the competition (including their rival California) at the national race. They claim the national title. However, the California varsity defeats Washington's varsity.
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The rowing coach, Al Ulbrickson, keeps Joe's winning crew (now sophomores) together in a boat. However, to keep them from getting too cocky, he puts them in the last (lowest ranking) boat.
Joe's family situation has not improved. After confronting Thula and his family to unsatisfactory results, he relies on rowing as a distraction. He and Joyce remain close. -
Al Ulbrickson announces his intentions to bring a team to the 1936 Olympics, and ramps up training intensity. Though Joe's crew's skill level fluctuates rapidly, Ulbrickson promotes them to the first boat when they beat the varsity and a mock race.
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Joe's sophomore crew wins again at Poughkeepsie. Likewise, the Washington varsity loses to California once more.
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To help cover expenses, Joe gets a summer job suspended in the air, mining into cliff faces with a jackhammer. (date may not be exact)
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Thula Rantz dies due to illness. Harry Rantz tries to rekindle the family and make a home where they can all (with Joe) live together. Joe doesn't know what to make of it.
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After many anti-Nazi demonstrations and opposition, it is decided the that US will participate in the Berlin Olympics. (This was partly due to the persuasion of the Amateur Athletic Union of the United States, whose president, Avery Brundage, was believed to have anti-Semitic prejudices.) (date may not be exact)
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Joe is now on the Washington varsity crew, though not with all of his original freshman boat. They win at Poughkeepsie, claiming the national title once more.
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After winning their preliminary heats, the Washington varsity team comes in first at the Olympic Trials. They are going to the 1936 Olympics.
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After being informed that the $5000 necessary for going to the Olympics would not be supplied as promised, Washington was forced to fundraise for themselves. Seattle and the athlete's hometowns come together to raise enough money in two days.
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Along with the other USA athletes, Joe and his crew mates board the Manhattan for the boat ride over to Berlin.
In Germany, the final preparations have been completed to make Berlin look like a civilized, non-anti-Semitic area. -
Against all odds (Don Hume was sick and nearly passed out, and they also had the hardest lane to row in), Joe's crew wins gold.
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Joe and Joyce graduate and marry the same day. (date may not be exact)
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Joyce dies in September 2002.
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Joe dies at age 93.