Athlete Biography

As a kid, Jackie Robinson loved sports. And why not? He was a natural at football, basketball, and, of course, baseball. But beyond athletic skill, it was his strength of character that secured his place in sports history. In 1947 Jackie joined the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking the long-time color barrier in major league baseball. It was tough being first - not only did "fans" send hate mail but some of his own teammates refused to accept him.

From his days growing up in Scotland to his harrowing experiences fighting in Italy during World War Two, Bill McLaren has always been in the thick of it. Used to being caught up in the most dramatic moments rugby has ever seen, McLaren relives the highlights of his illustrious career, and talks of the game today and his regrets that rugby went professional.

In All Heart, adapted from When Nobody Was Watching specifically for younger listeners, Carli tells the full inspiring story of her journey to the top of the soccer world - an honest, action-packed account that takes listeners inside the mind of a hardworking athlete.

Girls' athletic participation in school and community sports programs is skyrocketing. Girls now comprise 33 percent of all high school athletes, representing a dramatic increase from four percent who participated in 1971, the year before the enactment of Title IX. You Go, Girl! is a collection of first person insights, thoughts, and stories from successful women in the world of sports.

Be inspired by the story of Kevin Atlas (formerly Laue), whose faith and perseverance helped him become an NCAA Division I basketball player, despite being born with only one arm. Even before entering the world, Kevin Atlas was a fighter. He should have died in childbirth, as the umbilical cord was wrapped around his neck twice, but he survived because his left arm was in the middle of it, allowing blood to flow to his brain. But since circulation was cut off in that arm, he was born with his left arm ending just below his elbow.

Women don't take up triathlon in their 40s, right? Wrong! That was exactly what 41-year-old Debs did. Not caring that she was more than a bit on the heavy side, and diabetic to boot, she signed up for her first triathlon.

This publication is full of practical techniques and questions designed to promote an understanding of why, at times, you feel the way you do, and help you to become rooted, mindful, and more accepting of you as the person you are.

Before she became one of the most famous basketball players on the planet, before she began speaking out for prison reform, Maya Moore was just a kid. In this chapter book biography by acclaimed author Andrew Maraniss, listeners learn more about the life and work of Maya Moore—from growing up with a single mother in Jefferson City, Missouri, to her journey to becoming a star player at UCONN and the WNBA, to her social justice fighting for prison reform and speaking up for Black Lives Matter.

Before he became one of the most famous basketball players on the planet, before he began speaking out for justice, LeBron James was just a kid. In this chapter book biography by acclaimed author Andrew Maraniss, listeners learn more about the life and work of LeBron James—from growing up with a single mother in Akron, Ohio, to his journey to the NBA and ten NBA championships, to his social justice work creating I PROMISE and speaking up for Black Lives Matter.

Written for the athlete, Triumph! is a guide that helps you understand how to approach your sport philosophically and practically. Kunz explains how to focus your energy and play with confidence through ART (alignment, rules, and technique), understand the politics of sports, and manage relationships that surround you as an athlete. Apply the lessons learned in Triumph!, gain a competitive edge, and become a winner on and off the field. With forewords from legendary national championship football coaches Lou Holtz and Ara Parseghian. 

By studying this playbook, aspiring and rookie NBA and NFL athletes will be able to create a blueprint to prepare them to navigate the world of professional sports and successfully transition into the final stage of their lives. This playbook takes a proactive approach in addressing the common issues that plague athletes, enabling them to move forward strategically and with purpose.  

Right out of college, Abby Wambach shot to fame in the United States soccer scene. In 2002, she was picked second in the Women's United Soccer Association draft by the Washington Freedom. She also became a leading scorer on the US Women's National Team. After winning the 2012 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award and two Olympic gold medals, Abby is still going strong. She holds the world record for international goals. Follow Abby's story from her beginnings at University of Florida to becoming an international soccer superstar.

The story of an Olympic wrestler allegedly murdered by the wealthy heir to the Du Pont fortune, Blood Money takes listeners inside the bizarre world of a multi-millionaire, and lays bare the brutal shooting and tense police siege that riveted the nation.

The amazing story of TV presenter Louise Minchin's journey from the BBC Breakfast sofa to representing Great Britain at the World Triathlon Championships. This is a warmly written and wonderfully honest adventure through sport that will both entertain and inspire. It started out as a fun BBC Breakfast cycling stunt in 2012 and culminated in Louise Minchin wearing the colours of Team GB at the World Triathlon Championship in 2015.

Do I want to become an elite coach in my sport? Do I want inspire my players to be successful in sport, but also in their lives? Do I want to learn qualities that make me a great coaching candidate? 50 Things to Know About Coaching, by Shane A. Reinhard, offers an approach to coaching sport that is not just about wins and losses, but more about skill development, relationship building, and being successful outside of sport.

The man they call 'Silk' was the ultimate team player—versatile, highly skilled and hard at the contest, with an enviable reputation for being able to stand up in big moments. Burgoyne is a proud Indigenous man, with a football pedigree that is a story in itself. Starting with his father's time at the Koonibba Roosters, the oldest surviving Indigenous footy club in Australia, the Burgoyne name is directly linked to Gavin Wanganeen, Eddie Betts, Graham Johncock and many other AFL stars.

Your family's athletic scholarship dream can become a reality when you apply the recruiting steps clearly laid out in The Athletic Scholarship Playbook. Jon Fugler takes the mystery out of recruiting and athletic scholarships, providing parents and student-athletes a clear, actionable plan. This playbook is your recruiting road map that will lead you to success, covering steps for all sports, both men's and women's.

Clara Hughes is famous for being the only Canadian to have won medals at the Olympic Summer and Olympic Winter Games. You can say that Clara was born to be an athlete, but it was her undying dedication to better her skills that made her a champion. If you want an inspiration to do better and to never give up, look up to Clara.

The Tyler Campbell story is the journey of a man who is in constant search of finding the best version of himself. At an early age, Tyler discovers that his path in life will be a constant emotional roller coaster, that his life will be full of faith-tested trials and heartbreaking setbacks. The son of an NFL Hall of Famer and Heisman Trophy winner, Tyler is on the quest to create a new path for himself and he would utilize the game of football to do it.

Diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorder, a form of autism, as a toddler, Anthony Ianni wasn't expected to succeed in school or participate in sports, but he had other ideas. As a child, Ianni told anybody who would listen, including head coach Tom Izzo, that he would one day play for the Michigan State Spartans.