Books About Olympic Greats
Many of us will be watching the Olympics on television soon, and we will be hearing human interest stories about the athletes. If you can’t wait until then, there are some very good books about former Olympic stars. Some of the stars may be new names to you.
Beautiful on the Outside, Adam Rippon
In 2018, America met Adam Rippon, and we loved him. He won the bronze medal is men’s figure skating with a dazzling routine. In his book, Rippon reveals to readers the less-than-glamorous aspects of his Olympic journey and how he grew into the part he played in the games.
“For as long as I can remember, life has been measured in seconds. The fewer, the better.”
Chasing Grace, Sanya Richards-Ross
Richards-Ross started running track as a little girl in Jamaica and began competing when she was only seven. An injury before the 2016 Olympics forced her to take a second look at her life and her goals. What was she chasing?
Like him or not, Andre Agassi was THE face of tennis around the world for years, winning 8 Grand Slams. He is, by anyone’s standards, a fascinating person. In this book, Agassi tells his story with intelligence and self-awareness. Critics have hailed the book as being ‘remarkable’.
Abby Wambach’s first soccer team was an all boys team because there was no girls team. Since then, Wambach has continued to take every shot she can, becoming an inspiration for girls and boys. NPR calls her story “lucid and wrenching” due to the candid and detailed look at how she repeatedly pushed the limits.