Synopses & Reviews
These fifteen motivating stories prove that integrity and honor are not entirely missing from the playing fields. Readers will share the excitement as blind mountain climber Erik Weihenmayer scales the heights of Mount McKinley; as sprinter Gail Devers returns from a life-threatening illness to defend her Olympic title . . . and more. Despite facing incredible adversity, each of these stars found the heart and stamina to persevere.
Synopsis
Here is a motivating collection of true stories from athletes who have faced incredible adversity, proving that integrity and honor are not entirely missing from the playing fields. Readers will learn about blind mountain climber Erik Weihenmayer, who scaled the heights of Mount McKinley; sprinter Gail Devers, who returned from a life-threatening illness to defend her Olympic title . . . and more. Despite challenges, each of these stars found the heart and stamina to persevere. With themes of resilience and grit, this inspirational book includes a foreword by noted former baseball player and coach Bobby Valentine, with additional stories from the following athletes:
Michelle Akers: The Fire Within
Ruben Gonzalez: Street Survivor
Jim Eisenreich: This Is Who I Am
John Lucas: One on One
Mansour Bahrami: For the Love of the Game
Greg LeMond: Making a New Plan
Diana Golden Brosnihan: Gliding on the Edge
Chris Zorich: Zora's Gift
Zina Garrison: No One Is Perfect
Bob Welch: Living One Day at a Time
Willie O'Ree: Breaking the Barriers
Dan O'Brien: No Sure Thing
Jean Driscoll: Don't Look Back
Synopsis
Just in time for the 2022 Winter Olympics, here is a motivating collection of true stories from athletes, including many former Olympians, who have faced incredible adversity--proving that integrity and honor are not entirely missing from the playing fields. Readers will learn about blind mountain climber Erik Weihenmayer, who scaled the heights of Mount McKinley; sprinter Gail Devers, who returned from a life-threatening illness to defend her Olympic title... and more. Despite challenges, each of these stars found the heart and stamina to persevere. With themes of resilience and grit, this inspirational book includes a foreword by noted former baseball player and coach Bobby Valentine, with additional stories from the following athletes:
Michelle Akers The Fire Within
Ruben Gonzalez Street Survivor
Jim Eisenreich This Is Who I Am
John Lucas One on One
Mansour Bahrami For the Love of the Game
Greg LeMond Making a New Plan
Diana Golden Brosnihan Gliding on the Edge
Chris Zorich Zora's Gift
Zina Garrison No One Is Perfect
Bob Welch Living One Day at a Time
Willie O'Ree Breaking the Barriers
Dan O'Brien No Sure Thing
Jean Driscoll Don't Look Back
About the Author
Marty has written more than twenty-five articles for magazines such as Highlights for Children, Family Fun, Parenting, and Disney Adventures. His avid interest in sports is apparent in his vivid and insightful articles, and has earned him the award for Best Sports Feature in Highlights for Children five times in the past six years. In 1996, Marty was presented with Distinguished Achievement Award for his Article "Anything to Win?", which appeared in the December issue of Highlights. A graduate of Chautauqua himself (1990), Marty is also a graduate of the Children's Institute of Literature. He earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education and secondary english and a master's degree in education from S.U.N.Y. Cortland. He has been an elementary school teacher for the past twenty-three years. Currently writing a book for Boyds Mills Press about athletes who have overcome diversity, Marty lives in Ithaca, New York, with his wife and children.