This year's Olympics have drawn to a close, but if you miss the thrill of competition and athletic achievement, you can check out these memoirs written by summer Olympians of years past. These should keep you busy until the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing!
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In the water they can't see you cry : a memoir
by Amanda Beard A seven-time Olympic medalist describes her battles with depression, eating disorders and substance abuse in spite of her successful career, recounting how she hid her struggles from her loved ones before seeking help and finding renewal in the birth of her son. |
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Courage to soar : a body in motion, a life in balance
by Simone Biles The gymnast relates how her faith and family saw her through several challenges, beginning from her childhood in foster care, and shares the professional journey that led to her earning a spot on the 2016 Olympic team. |
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Greater than Gold : from Olympic heartbreak to ultimate redemption
by David Boudia Chronicles the life and achievements of the Olympic gold medalist diver, who found God after a devastating defeat in the 2008 Olympic Games and returned to the competition four years later with a renewed spirit. |
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When nobody was watching : my hard-fought journey to the top of the soccer world
by Carli Lloyd The celebrated star of the U.S. women's national soccer team chronicles her rise to the top, describing how she nearly quit the sport in 2003 until finding a trusted trainer who helped her become one of the best players in the world. |
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Running for my life : one lost boy's journey from the killing fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games
by Lopez Lomong Offers the true story of a Sudanese boy who, through unyielding faith, persevered through a devastating civil war to become an American citizen and an Olympic contender. |
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Misty : digging deep in volleyball and life
by Misty May-Treanor The Olympic Gold Medal-winning volleyball player discusses growing up with her Olympian father, how alcoholism plagued her home and her mother's untimely death from cancer, and tells behind-the-scenes stories from her rise to volleyball stardom. |
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Proud : my fight for an unlikely American dream
by Ibtihaj Muhammad Shares the life story of the Olympic fencer, including how she overcame feeling out of place in her sport and how she became the first American woman to compete in the Olympics wearing a hijab. |
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Bravey : chasing dreams, befriending pain, and other big ideas
by Alexi Pappas The award-winning writer, filmmaker and Olympic athlete describes her childhood embrace of female role models in the aftermath of her mother’s suicide, detailing the hard work, unrelenting resolve and private depression that challenged her own ambitions. |
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No limits : the will to succeed
by Michael Phelps The record-setting swimmer and Olympic medalist shares his secrets to success, discussing obstacles and challenges he has overcome, his relationships with his family and coach, his training regimen, and determination to reach his goals. |
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Fierce : how competing for myself changed everything
by Aly Raisman Shares the author's journey to Olympic gold, including when she began her gymnastics training, how she dealt with naysayers who said she would never make it, and how she surrounded herself with a strong support system. |
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Forward : a memoir
by Abby Wambach The U.S. Women's national team captain--winner of the 2015 World Cup and the highest international goal scorer of all time--shares her story, her struggles and her worldview in a memoir that is also a rousing call to arms to dream big and fight for a better world. |
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On the line
by Serena Williams The Grand Slam and Olympic champion traces her rise from a disadvantaged childhood to one of the world's top women tennis players, sharing frank coverage of subjects ranging from her battles with racism and the injuries that threatened her career to her current roles as a philanthropist and media personality. |