by Julia H. Jackson
As the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver come to a close, spectators worldwide are reminded how sports and international competition function as yet another way to tell stories. Think back to the best moments of this year in Canada: American Lindsey Vonn’s gold medal in downhill skiing, Yu Na Kim of Korea’s winning free skate performance, or Team Canada’s men’s hockey win in overtime. When these athletes go home, not only will they take their medals, but they’ll take something perhaps more significant: the record that they beat and the odds that they faced; in effect, their very own Olympic story.
Speaking of stories—there is a long legacy of Olympic athletes teaming up with journalists and biographers to share their stories as memoirs. Here’s a list of 5 Books about Inspirational Olympians to get you started.
5. Triumph: The Untold Story of Jesse Owens and Hitler’s Olympics by Jeremy Schapp
Jesse Owens’ life was not just one, but several important stories. Owens was the first American to win four track and field medals in one Olympic Game—the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin, to be exact. His athletic achievements notwithstanding, Owens’ decision to participate at all was an act of courage, given the intense backdrop of what would later become Nazi Germany. Schapp’s book takes a cinematic approach to Owens’ life, starting with his childhood in 1920s Cleveland, through his early track career to Berlin, where the concept of the Aryan race was just gaining popularity.
4. The Boys of Winter: The Untold Story of a Coach, a Dream, and the 1980 U.S. Hockey Team by Wayne Coffey
In 1980, the U.S. men’s hockey team was up against the Soviets, the reigning international hockey champions whose legacy made them seem unbeatable. The New York Daily News sportswriter Coffey approaches the pivotal 1980 games from U.S. Coach Herb Brooks’ perspective, describing the physical and psychological exercises he used to build up the American team. Unlike many sports stories, Coffey seeks to make both teams human, showing not just their strengths and weaknesses, but their attitude in light of the Iranian hostage crisis and the Cold War.
3. Wobbles: an Olympic Story by Nadine Neumann
Australian swimmer Nadine Neumann writes of her struggle with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as a young woman, a condition that, although challenging, never kept her from international competition. She finished sixth in the 200m breast stroke at the 1996 Atlanta summer games, breaking her personal best. Her memoir describes the intricacy of competing for the best race while overcoming the daily challenges of a chronic condition. In addition to her accomplishments as a swimmer, Neumann went on to become a teacher, coach and writer.
2. A Skating Life: My Story by Dorothy Hamill
Dorothy Hamill skated onto the ice in Innnsbruk, Austria, in 1976, and into a new life. At age 19, she was about to accomplish her primary goal: to win an Olympic gold medal in figure skating. Her 2007 memoir traces her childhood on the ice, showing not only her athletic achievements, but also the complexity of her family relationships. Hamill went on to become a pioneering star in the Ice Capades, the touring skate shows that incorporated stories into skate performances. Hamill’s work on and off the ice has proven her not only to be a professional, high-achieving athlete, but a leader in youth fitness and performance.
1. Silent Gesture: an Autobiography of Tommie Smith by Tommie Smith, Delois Smith, and David Steele
Tomm
ie Smith won the gold medal in the 200m running race at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City. As the “Star Spangled Banner” echoed across the stands, Smith raised on black-gloved fist to the air, creating perhaps one of the most highly politicized images of the Olympics. This single moment sparked a flurry of responses: did Smith, who had an incredible track record at San Jose State University and later became a successful as teacher and coach, intend for spectators to glean some greater political meaning from his black glove? Smith’s autobiography explores both his views on athletics and his young life, describing how one “silent gesture” redefined him not only as a runner, but also as a leader in the civil rights movement and beyond.
Still not inspired? There is an entire cannon of Olympic stories out there, and (most likely) there will be more to come in the months following the 2010 games in Vancouver. Are you an athlete? Let us know what sports you play and what stories you hope to one day tell!
