First published 2024
Ellen Labrecque profiles more than fifty athletes who refused to accept limitations and transformed sports forever. The book showcases well-known figures like Jackie Robinson and Simone Biles alongside lesser-known pioneers including the first female drag-racing champion and the first Latino American baseball superstar. Readers meet the first Olympian with an amputated leg, the first blind Ironman racer, the first transgender college champion, and the first Asian American Olympic gold medalists. These athletes came from vastly different backgrounds and faced unique obstacles, but they shared one trait: they rejected being told something was impossible. Labrecque examines how Title IX changed athletics, explains the significance of the Paralympics, and traces the history of the Haudenosaunee lacrosse team. The book demonstrates how these fearless competitors fought for their beliefs and created opportunities for future generations. By the final page, readers will feel motivated to maintain optimism, challenge unfairness, and pursue their goals without fear.
Genres: sports, biography-memoir, 21st-century, activism, american-history
Vibes: emotional, inspiring, thought-provoking
Tropes: inspiring-true-story, pioneers-and-trailblazers
Period: 21st Century
128 pages · Hardcover · Sourcebooks Explore