Synopses & Reviews
The moment she burst onto the world stage at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, twenty-three year old ski racer Picabo Street ignited a fire of excitement in the media and in the hearts of fans that continues to burn today. Following that silver medal win with two straight World Cup downhill titlesa feat unmatched in American skiingand, finally, the ultimate Olympic gold medal win in Nagano in 1998, the outspoken speed demon who bore a name as unforgettable as her performance was a new kind of female athlete and new kind of role model. But success had its price. In a life marked by extremesfrom the highest accomplishments to the lowest of lowsStreet was about to realize an athlete's greatest fear.
Just one month after grabbing the gold, Street careened off course in a race in Switzerland, snapping her left femur in two, tearing the ligament in her right knee, and leaving her future in doubt. Now, after two years of pain, grueling rehabilitation, and stunning personal growth, Street is making a comeback, ready to face the 2002 Winter Olympics, and ready to tell her inspiring story. It's the story not only an elite athlete, but of a youth of opposites in which Street was "a poor kid in a rich kid's sport, a girl among boys, a free spirit among hard-asses, an American in a sport ruled by Europeans." Above all, it's the story of a girl from a tiny community called Triumphwho grew up to do just that.
With unflinching honesty Street shares her coming-of-age experience, revealing how adversity shaped a rebellious tomboy into a champion and a compassionate woman, in harmony with her family, at peace with her fear of failure, and having come to terms with the body-image issues faced by every girl. For the first time, Street addresses the scandals surrounding Salt Lake City's bid for the 2002 Winter Olympics; the truth about her unconventional upbringing, and how she overcame a lengthy, debilitating depression.
In the tradition of Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike and Greg Louganis's Breaking the Surface, Picabo: Nothing to Hide is a poignant, intimate account of a woman forced to rebuild herselfbody, mind, and soul.
"I LEARNED WHAT ALL GIRLS NEED TO LEARN: THAT YOU CAN FIGHT TO WIN, AND YOU SHOULD NEVER BE ASHAMED OF IT. DON'T LET ANYTHING SLOW YOU DOWN."
--Picabo Street
Patriot, tomboy, household name, Olympic champion . . . the irrepressible young woman who took the slopesand our heartsby storm in what is often called the NASCAR of winter sports is golden once again, and ready to reveal the trials and triumphs of a life already marked by stunning victory, wrenching defeat, and magnificent mental and physical resilience. Here is Picabo Streeton and off the skis.
Review
"At age 30, world downhill champion and Olympic gold and silver medalist Picabo Street has written the story of her childhood and her racing career....This story, told with youthful freshness and informal language, is engaging and honest. Readers will be cheering for her to succeed at the 2002 Olympics. Recommended for all public libraries, especially where skiing is popular." Library Journal
Review
"In her autobiography, Olympic ski racer Street gives a solid chronology of her career with her independent 'I'll do what I want' attitude. Not a typical sports superstar, Street prefers to hang out with her family or old friends....Fans of Picabo will enjoy this book but, because she hasn't been in the public eye recently, her audience may be somewhat limited." Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
Olympic Gold Medalist Picabo Street is once again on the rise, ready to face the 2002 Olympics and tell her extraordinary story "Picabo Street...is the kind of athlete for which the Olympics were invented."USA Today "Street...has been performing at Porsche speed...dominating women's downhill... [a] comeback queen."Glamour "Picabo rules... America's irrepressible ski champion."Skiing Olympic Champion Picabo Street is golden once again The moment she burst onto the world stage at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, 23-year-old speed demon Picabo Street ignited a fire of excitement in the media and in the hearts of fans that continues to burn today. Free-spirited and outspoken, Street was a new kind of female athlete and a new kind of role model. Street followed her silver medal win with two straight World Cup downhill titlesa feat unmatched in American skiingand finally, the ultimate Olympic gold medal win in Nagano in 1998. But success had its price. Just one month after her gold medal win, Street careened off course in a race in Switzerland, snapping her left femur in two, shredding the ligament in her right knee, and leaving her future in peril. Now, after two years of excruciating pain, grueling rehabilitation, and stunning personal growth, Street is making a comeback, ready to face the 2002 Winter Olympics and ready to tell her inspiring story. In this powerful, honest autobiography, Street shares her coming-of-age experience, revealing how adversity shaped a rebellious tomboy into a champion athlete and compassionate woman, in harmony with her family and at peace with her fear of failure. Here, for the first time, Street addresses the pressures exerted on her by her ski sponsors that may have been partly to blame for her terrible crash; the scandals surrounding the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee; and how she overcame a lengthy, debilitating depression. In the tradition of Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike and Greg Louganis's Breaking the Surface, Picabo: Nothing to Hide is a poignant, intimate account of a woman forced to rebuild herselfbody, mind, and soul. "I learned what all girls need to learn: that you can kick ass, and you should never be ashamed of it."Picabo Street