The term “Olympian” denotes supreme excellence. In ancient Greek theology, the Olympians were the major deities, who with power and strength, presided over human life. This ancient connotation adds to the almost elusive and inhuman way the public treats the athletes who enter the Olympics. They are celebrated for their victories and mercilessly shamed for their failures.
Through literature, Olympians have taken their narratives back into their own hands. They have written memoirs that humanize their career by revealing unspoken struggles. These insights provide us with a better understanding of these athletes while watching this Olympics season and make their accomplishments even more awe-inspiring. The following list comprises 12 memoirs written by the real women behind the world’s Olympic gods.
Courage to Soar: A Body in Motion, A Life in Balance by Simone Biles
Simone Biles is one of the biggest Olympian names in the world. Her career has displayed a level of skill and precision as close to perfection as possible. Nevertheless, this does not mean that her life is perfect. There is the fierce Olympian who has beat world records, however, there is also the girl who came from foster care and as a young child, discovered gymnastics on a random school field trip.
In her memoir, Biles shows how these two identities can coexist and play a part in her unwavering determination and passion for the sport. In her first Olympic Games in 2016, she won four gold medals and one bronze medal. In 2021, with the pressure of the world on her shoulders, Biles won a silver and bronze medal before leaving the Games to focus on her mental and physical health—possibly the bravest decision she made in her career given society’s brutal treatment of female athletes if they show any hint of weakness. Watching her this time around, the memoir may provide you with a renewed perspective on what truly makes her one of the greatest gymnasts of all time.
Forward by Abby Wambach
Professional female soccer has long been underrated. Abby Wambach, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, did not let that hold her back when she made history as the highest goal scorer—both male and female—in the history of soccer and led her team to victory in the 2015 World Cup Championship. When she captured the attention of the public as a female soccer player, she continued to push boundaries. Wambach became an outspoken advocate for women’s rights and gender equality in the world of sports. Though she appears to be a resilient leader, Wambach shares the inspiring and brutal journey it took to get there. You do not need to be a soccer fan to be inspired by the story of a true hero.’
Far Beyond Gold- Running from Fear to Faith by Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone
Olympic and World Champion hurdler Sydney McLaughlin has overcome many hurdles, both mentally and physically. Even at her level of fame, she struggled with anxiety and the relatable feeling of not being enough. Embedded in her story is how she found spirituality as an empowering way to heal. She writes to share her journey and also inspire people to conquer their fears and overcome the hurdles life throws.
Bravey: Chasing Dreams, Befriending Pain, and Other Big Ideas by Alexi Pappas
After the loss of her mother at a young age, Alexi Pappas’s father was desperate for her to have a female role model. She just so happened to find these role models in sports. She grew up to achieve her dream to run in the Olympics and also managed to not give up on the rest of her dreams. The same year she set the record for a 10k in the 2016 Olympics, she also wrote, directed, and starred in her first feature film called Tracktown.
As if these weren’t accomplishments enough, she also became an author. Her memoir shows another side to the Olympian—a raw and honest expose of how life’s highs are often followed by ultimate lows. She shares her battle with depression and how she learned to live through her hardships with humor and grace and come out as an even better person, athlete, and artist.
Just Add Water: My Swimming Life by Katie Ledecky
Katie Ledecky has broken records as a three-time Olympian, seven-time gold medalist, twenty-one-time World Champion, eight-time NCAA Champion, and a 16-time world record breaker. As the winner of more Olympic races than any female swimmer in history, Ledecky is the definition of a true competitor. In her book, she reveals how constantly seeking challenges drove her forward on a record-breaking journey. All this was rooted in the early days of falling in love with water. She won her first gold medal at only 15—at the time the youngest member of the American team. By climbing into her perspective of thinking, Katie Ledecky is a model of perseverance and motivation.
Off-Balance by Dominque Moceanu
New York Times Bestseller and Olympic gold medalist Dominique Moceanou was once the youngest member of the 1996 US Women’s Olympic Gymnastics team. The “Magnificent Seven” was the first and only American women’s team to take gold at the Olympics. Her heart-wrenching memoir illustrates what it was like to be a top athlete, as well as a child star. Starting from a young age, she was susceptible to exploitation and pressure from coaches and parents to be perfect and untouchable. A very public battle with her parents forced her to share sensitive parts of her personal life with the public. In the meantime, she was also dealing with a burdening secret when a mysterious letter from a stranger revealed that she had a second sister—born with a physical disability and given away at birth. Beginning as a story about sports, it expands into a story about family and trauma and navigating the path toward healing.
Outofshapeworthlessloser: A Memoir of Figure Skating, F*cking Up, and Figuring It Out by Gracie Gold
In some way or another, every female has had to navigate unrealistic beauty standards and society’s tendency to base a woman’s value on appearance. As America’s sweetheart at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, this microscope was narrowed even further for Olympian figure skater Gracie Gold. Gold was not only drilled by her coaches physically but also trained on how to please the media. She was the picture of perfection in public, yet privately she was suffering deeply.
Gold took back the narrative in her 2024 memoir where she reveals how all her life she was driven by a self-destructive voice she calls “outofshapeworthlessloser.” Back in 2017, the media went into a frenzy after rumors about her entering treatment for anxiety and an eating disorder. These sources mercilessly broke her to the ground, while in her personal life, she was entering treatment for suicidal ideation. Gold’s memoir is an intimate diary entry about the strained world of figure skating and the reality of mental health and eating disorders. She bravely reveals her struggles with the ultimate goal of spreading awareness and instilling hope among readers.
The Race to Be Myself: A Memoir by Caster Semenya
At eighteen years old, Caster Semenya won the 800m Women’s Final at the Berlin World Championships in 2009 and brought her country of South Africa to Victory. Nevertheless, her incredible achievement was overshadowed by criticism and speculations about her body. Semenya was forced to undergo sex testing, which triggered a larger conversation about the role of gender in sports and the oppressive treatment of women in sports.
Before the firestorm, Semenya grew up in a village in South Africa and fell in love with the freedom of running. She beat records and was on an uphill journey to becoming a legendary athlete. Being mercilessly humiliated by the media and forced to endure a legal trial to compete in her sport was an unfathomable twist of events. The average person would be understandably demoralized by the horrible treatment, yet Semenya trailblazed forward. Nothing could stop her from doing what she loved most.
Rise: My Story by Lindsey Vonn
Lindsey Vonn is undeniably one of the most famous skiers, if not athletes, of all time. Her 20-year run in sports included 3 Olympic medals, 82 World Cup wins, 20 World Cup titles, and 7 World Championship Medals. Even after her retirement in 2019, she continues to act as a trailblazer for female athletes. Such achievements require risk-taking and aggressiveness. Victory, however, came at a cost, which often meant sacrificing her well-being and ignoring her physical and mental injuries. Her story is one of warning, but also one of bravery. Vonn is known for her courage to speak her mind and in her novel she does hold back. Readers have much to learn from her journey and she admits to having to learn from herself too.
Let Your Mind Run: A Memoir of Thinking My Way to Victory by Deena Kastor
Olympian Deena Kastor takes a unique approach to her athletic career. As much as running is a physical sport, it is also profoundly mental. She did not always approach sports in this metaphysical way. When Kastor was an up-and-coming star runner, her goal was firm—to run and train as hard as possible and not look back. This mindset seemed to work until she hit a wall of burnout.
Before she quit, Joe Vigil, a famous coach, stepped into the picture and Kastor gave running one last chance. According to her memoir, Vigil taught her the importance of meditation behind sports in which being kind to oneself can transform into resilience. Growing the strength of her mind was by no means an easy or brief journey, yet patience earned America’s first gold medal in the marathon in over 20 years. Kastor outlines a psychological mindset that anyone can use when they feel burnt out or on the brink of giving up. If you shift your mindset, you can take small steps and sprint past the goals you never imagined in the first place.
What's Your Reaction?
