Louis Zamperini’s life was marked by extraordinary endurance both on and off the track. Born in 1917 to Italian immigrants, he became a standout distance runner and represented the United States in the 5,000 meters at the 1936 Berlin Olympics, where his closing lap was so fast it caught the attention of all the countries there. When World War II broke out, Zamperini enlisted in the Army Air Corps as a bombardier. In 1943, his plane went down over the Pacific Ocean, and he survived 47 harrowing d