RELENTLESS SPIRIT, Golden Goggles, Missy Franklin, and a New Swimsuit

Seems like we just welcomed the autumn equinox and already the holiday shopping season is officially upon us. Do you have any particular shopping habits? I have a tendency to get sidetracked while doing research and come across one link that leads to another and then I land on a website and buy something for myself OR I have been known to shop with this method: buy something for a friend or family member and then buy one for me. Which leads to my purchase of a Missy Franklin Signature Speedo swimsuit for myself. How did I get to this online purchase? Well, I’ll go backward to Tuesday morning and share my chain of thoughts/actions:

* Need to write an entry for Sporty Girl Books blog.

* Hmmm, are there any female sporting news or events happening around this time of the year? It's a little early for recommending holiday book picks, isn't it?

* Scanning my Twitter feed I see that Monday night, the Golden Goggle Awards were presented by the USA Swimming Foundation to honor outstanding U.S. swimmers and their achievements from this past year. Simone Manuel won Female Race of the Year – watching that "live" this past summer was incredible and I knew the historical victory would inspire so many girls who see themselves in Simone.

* Who were the other women winners? They were all deserving honorees: Elizabeth Beisel (Team Leadership), Lilly King (Breakout Swimmer of the Year) and Katie Ladecky (Female Swimmer of the Year).

* I recently reviewed a book by Missy Franklin and recall she won a few Golden Goggle honors. A quick reference check reveals she was awarded Female Athlete of the Year (2011, 2012) and Breakout Performer of the Year (2010).

 * I pause, get a coffee refill, and peruse my email and whaddya know, there’s a notice from Booklist Online so I check to see if my latest review has been published. Yep! The November 15, 2016 issue of Booklist has my review of RELENTLESS SPIRIT: THEUNCONVENTIONAL RAISING OF A CHAMPION by Missy Franklin and her parents, DA and Dick Franklin. This up-beat memoir by Missy along with her parents is inspirational and a thoughtful reflection on how - together as a family - they achieved a healthy balance in life and sports. It may be subtitled unconventional but it's a model that worked successfully for their family.
To read the Booklist review: www.booklistonline.com/

* I’m curious if Missy went to the Golden Goggles and what she’s up to so I check her Twitter feed.

* Interesting! SpeedoUSA has launched the “Missy Franklin Signature Series” of swimwear. So naturally, I’ve got to check ‘em out!

And, that’s how it happens . . . from deciding on a topic to writing a blog entry to buying a new swimsuit or the other way around. RELENTLESS SPIRIT is scheduled for release in early December – keep an eye out for it! And I guess it's not too early to share this as an ideal gift to give to a sporty girl or yourself - a book by a delightful, grounded role model raised by two extraordinary parents!

Interesting Article and Book on Title IX

"Before Title IX, one in 27 girls played sports. Today that number is two in five. While we still have far to go before every girl has equal access to sports, especially girls of color, it is clear that we are making headway. This summer at the 2016 Rio Olympics, the world watched as woman after woman broke barriers, shattered records and won titles across a multitude of sports."

Now that the Olympics are over, it would be easy to forget all of the amazing female athletes featured over the summer. The quote above is from an article shared on the She Network on the role of Title IX and female athletes in America.

The article, called "Title IX and The Rise of Female Athletes in America,"  connects to a number of other articles about female athletes. In one from the LA Times, it states, “It’s not perfect,” swimmer DiRado said. “But the more girls can grow up and watch Olympics like this, knowing they’re just as good as the men’s teams, it’s goes a long way.’’

It continues, "Can it carry over to an increase in U.S. women’s sports popularity during non-Olympic years? So far, no good. The only stable women’s pro sports league is the WNBA, but that basketball league has benefited from the support of the powerful NBA."

So the fight for increased attention on women's sports continues, but things continue moving in the right direction.

For more about the role of Title IX, check out this book:

2016 Rio Summer Olympic Games: What Books do these 12 Olympians Like to Read?

What books did these Olympians pack in their suitcase, plus a few book-related tidbits about those we will be cheering for in the next two weeks!

By Brenda Barrera

Summer reading. What images does this conjure: curling up on a chair overlooking a tranquil lake, checking off the titles on the list your teacher handed out in May, or slipping a paperback best-seller into your carry-on bag as you travel across the country? Your answers are likely shared by some of the women representing Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games.  I enjoy reading get-to-know-this-athlete-better profiles. I believe it helps to build a fan base when we discover what inspires an athlete or motivates them to muscle through tough competition. It’s also nice to learn about a shared passion like the joy of reading a good book.

Archery – Mackenzie Brown

The recent popularity of this sport can be credited to the books and film, The Hunger Games. Here’s what Brown had to say about the popular series: “I was a fan of THE HUNGER GAMES because I read the books. It’s cool for people to see my name as the girl on fire and also get an interest in archery, even if it is from 'The Hunger Games.' Any interest in archery is good for our sport.”

Source: http://www.teamusa.org

Cycling – Sarah Hammer (track)

Hammer is a two-time Olympic silver medalist and World Champion in track cycling. In 2003, she quit the sport but returned a year later with renewed purpose and what a mark she has made since then. Her bio says she is an avid reader as does her profile in Classroom Champions. 

Favorite things to do off the bike:

1. Take my German Shepherd Dolça for walks

2. Read a good book

3. Go out to nice dinners with my husband

4. Travel

5. Drink coffee

Source: http://teamtwenty16.com

Source: www.classroomchampions.org

Diving – Kassidy Cook

According to her TeamUSA profile, Cook “enjoys cooking and reading.” She must know the Harry Potter books inside and out because she claims she can recite any of the Harry Potter spells. Hmmm, which ones do you think she would use in Rio . . . rictusempra, orchideous, riddikulus?

Source: www.teamusa.org

Gymnastics – Laurie Hernandez

Get ready for a lot of TV coverage on this 16-year-old gymnastics phenom who still manages to make time for fun by learning dances from YouTube and she also likes to read. THE MAZE RUNNER is her favorite book and she also likes to write poetry.

Source: www.nbcolympics.com

Judo – Kayla Harrison

Kayla was the first U.S. athlete to win a gold medal in judo at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Can she repeat? In addition to her inspirational accomplishments on the judo mat, Harrison is a survivor of sexual abuse and is writing not one, but two books: a memoir and one with her foundation, Fearless Foundation.

Source: http://parade.com

Rowing – Megan Kalmoe (Quadruple Sculls)

Kalmoe is a now a three-time Olympic rower and 2012 bronze medalist who also enjoys reading and writing. Her blog is well-known in the rowing community, and she recently wrote an entry, “Stop Trying to Ruin theOlympics For Us” which has generated quite a few comments. Kalmoe states she wants to travel and begin to write a book when her profession as a rower ends.

Source: www.nbcchicago.com

Shooting – Kim Rhode (skeet)

Rhode was ten years old when she discovered the sport of skeet shooting and was a world champion at age 13! According to a profile in US Magazine she collects first edition children’s books, and her bookshelves must be pretty darn full – she has about 2,000 books!

Source: www.usmagazine.com

Soccer – Carli Lloyd

According to her website, Lloyd’s best soccer moment was winning the 2015 World Cup and scoring a hat trick in the final. I have a feeling her best writing moment will be coming up shortly. Lloyd will be joining other soccer superstars like Michelle Akers, Mia Hamm, Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, and Abby Wambach who have written memoirs. Her forthcoming memoir, WHEN NOBODY WAS WATCHING, is due this fall.

Source: www.carlilloyd.com/book

Swimming – Missy Franklin

Curious about Franklin’s reading habits? Well here’s the scoop on her Rio reading list per Travel and Leisure Magazine. “I’m a huge reader,” says Franklin. “A few days before a trip, I have a great time researching what everyone is reading and picking the books for my flight.” Her books include: AFTER YOU by JoJo Moyes, COURT OF MIST AND FURY by Sarah J. Maas, ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doerr, and KISSES FROM KATIE by Katie Davis.

Source: www.travelandleisure.com

Tennis – Serena Williams

Williams is now a four-time Olympian who has won gold in both singles (2012) and doubles (2000, 2008, 2012). Reading is listed among her hobbies and her favorite author is Maya Angelou.  I found this fun YouTube video, “73 Questions with Serena Williams | Vogue” and one question was: “What’s one book that made a lasting impression on you?” Her answer: LEAN IN by Sheryl Sandberg.  Also, according to USA Today, she arrived in Rio and had a Harry Potter book with her for the flight.

Source: www.youtube.com

Source: www.usatoday.com

Track & Field – Brianna Rollins (100m hurdles)

In her family, Rollins is the oldest with six younger brothers, so it’s hard to imagine how anyone would have been able to find a quiet corner to read while growing up. Rollins, a three-time NCAA Champion, will be making her Olympic debut in Rio says she stays focused by reading self-help books — they keep her positive.

Source: http://news.nike.com

Track & Field – Abbey D’Agostino (5000m)

D’Agostino, who ran for Dartmouth, is one of the most decorated athletes in Ivy League history. FloTrack did a great interview question asking her who she would have dinner with (living or dead) and why? One of her picks included: “Don Miller (the author of my favorite book, BLUE LIKE JAZZ) because his story touched the core of me during a challenging time in my life. It’s raw, honest, and incredibly profound…”

Source: www.flotrack.org

Of course, the book you know they would all like to read is an Olympic record book with their name and outstanding 2016 Olympic performance recorded. Cheers to all competing this summer in Rio!

Sporty Girl Video of the Week: Jordyn Wieber: Four Years Later

In this video about Olympic gold medal gymnast Jordyn Wieber we get an inside look at the regulations determining pro v. amateur/college competition. The conversation about fairness from sport to sport is extremely interesting and shows the difference between sports where the peak window is limited and sports where players can make money for an extended period of time.  Who are you following on the Road to Rio?

Happy Book Birthdays! June is coming up Gymnastics.

There's a weird sort of hive mind in the world of publishing and today's post is evidence. Three great books about gymnastics are having their book birthdays today. So if you are a reader who dreams about round-off back handsprings or if you regularly land on a balance beam that is four inches wide today is your day too. 

Happy #bookbirthday to Karlin Gray author of NADIA: THE GIRL WHO COULDN'T SIT STILL (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt).

From Goodreads:

Nadia Comaneci was a feisty and fearless little girl who went from climbing trees in the forests of Romania to swinging into history at the 1976 Olympic Games, where she received an unprecedented seven perfect scores in gymnastics. But as readers will see in this first-ever illustrated picture book about Nadia’s journey to Olympic gold, the road from small-town girl to world-class athlete was full of many imperfect moments. Expert illustrations that capture the energy and fluidity of Nadia's exuberant gymnastic routines and referential back matter round out this inspirational story of determination and overcoming adversity. A perfect 10.

Happy #bookbirthday to Caela Carter author of TUMBLING (Viking Books for Young Readers).

From Goodreads:

Grace lives and breathes gymnastics—but no matter how hard she pushes herself, she can never be perfect enough.

Leigh, Grace’s best friend, has it all: a gymnastics career, a normal high-school life…and a secret that could ruin everything.
Camille wants to please her mom, wants to please her boyfriend, and most of all, wants to walk away.
Wilhelmina was denied her Olympic dream four years ago, and she won’t let anything stop her again. No matter what.
Monica is terrified. Nobody believes in her—and why should they?
By the end of the two days of the U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Trials, some of these girls will be stars. Some will be going home with nothing. And all will have their lives changed forever.

Happy #bookbirthday to Shawn Johnson and A.L. Sonnichsen authors of THE FLIP SIDE (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers).

From Goodreads:

From gold medalist and reality TV star Shawn Johnson comes a debut YA novel inspired by her own experiences as an elite teenage gymnast—just in time for the Summer 2016 Olympic games.

Charlie Ryland has a secret.
She may seem like your average high school sophomore—but she’s just really good at pretending.
Because outside of school Charlie spends all her waking hours training to become one of the best gymnasts in the world. And it’s not easy flying under the radar when you’re aiming for Olympic gold…especially when an irresistible guy comes along and threatens to throw your whole world off balance.
Inspired by her own experiences as a fifteen-year-old Olympic gymnast, gold medalist Shawn Johnson writes a delightfully entertaining novel about chasing big dreams and falling in love, all while trying to keep it real.

A longer review will follow this week!

As we journey on the Road to Rio this year, I predict that you'll see a lot more books with female athletes. Let's hope that publishers go beyond the well-known sports of soccer, swimming, and gymnastics. I'd love to see a rowing book (ahem, wish it were mine), fencing, or canoeing (see other little known Olympic sports here.)

2016 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials + Review: FIRST LADIES OF RUNNING

Did you get a chance to watch the U.S. Olympic marathon trials this past Saturday? I was glued to the TV coverage and also followed the action on Facebook and Twitter. What a treat to watch the savvy race strategy unfold, like Desiree Linden holding back until it counted and at mile 26 motored by pre-race favorite Shalane Flanagan to finish second. Kara Goucher showed guts fighting to the finish despite knowing she would likely take the unenviable fourth place. Yes, I teared up watching eventual champion Amy Cragg urge her struggling teammate Flanagan to dig deep and keep moving during those final miles. Flanagan collapsed into her arms after crossing the line to earn the last spot for Team USA.

Girls who watched on TV, online, or along the Los Angeles streets most likely were unaware of the battles fought to allow women to compete in long distance events or the efforts made to get the first women’s Olympic marathon in 1984. Honoring the women who paved the way for athletes like Amy, Desi, Shalane, and Kara is the subject of FIRST LADIES OF RUNNING (Rodale Press, April 2016) by noted Runner’s World editor-at-large and accomplished runner, Amby Burfoot. I received a review copy this weekend, aha, perfect timing for the trials and this Olympic year.

Readers may be familiar with Kathrine Switzer’s 1967 Boston Marathon where the race director tried to remove her from the street during the race or Joan Benoit’s historic Olympic marathon victory in 1984, but equally important are the 20 additional women profiled. Each trailblazer and role model forged the path for the thousands of girls and women who participate today not only in their school programs, but road races across the country.

Just like many girls who run today, most of the women in these captivating essays recount their first foray into the sport during their teenage years. During the 50s, 60s, and 70s and even into the 80s these women encountered numerous obstacles such as girls and women not being allowed to enter races, no girl’s track or cross country teams, and a paucity of financial support. Can you imagine wanting to run a race but having to start on the sidewalk or hide behind a bush before jumping in with all the men on the street?

Olympians Mary Decker Slaney, Francie Larrieu Smith, and Grete Waitz are recognizable and significant contributors in the sport. Equally important are the women breaking down barriers who might be less known, like Julia Chase (first official female road racer, 1961); Merry Lepper (first woman to run a marathon, 1963); Nina Kuscsik (first official women’s winner of the Boston Marathon, 1972); and Marilyn Bevans (first national-class black female marathoner). Fans of Shalane Flanagan will want to turn to the essay on Cheryl Bridges (hint: like mother, like daughter). Hard core elites might sniff at seeing Oprah Winfrey featured, but without a doubt, her 1994 Marine Corps Marathon (4:29:20) propelled a movement in sports unlike any other. She inspired girls and women who are not elites or even top age groupers, but willing to put in the effort and deserving of the rewards that come with personal accomplishments like finishing a marathon.

FIRST LADIES OF RUNNING includes an Afterward: Where They Are Now, an Appendix of additional women pioneers, and a Timeline of women’s running history from 1958-1994. This is an outstanding contribution to the world of sporty girl books and just in time for April, a revered month in the world of sports, when men and now thousands of women will run together in our country’s revered footrace: the Boston Marathon.