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 Books Out This Summer

Picture Books
Gymnastics:
Nadia, the Girl Who Couldn't Sit Still by Karlin Grey and C. Davener (June 7th)
*I wanted to be Nadia Comanichi when I was younger, so I can't wait for this book. I won't embarrass myself by admitted how many times I watched the made-for-tv movie of her life;)

Middle Grade
Baseball:
The Distance to Home by Jenn Bishop (June 28th)
*The cover on this one tugs at my heart. I can't wait to read it.

Young Adult
Cross-Country:
Ask Me How I Got Here by Christine Heppermann (Today, May 3rd!)
*As a HS cross-country runner, I want to get my hands on this book.

Swimming:
Gold Fish ny Nat Lurrtsema (June 7th)
*Goodreads reviews all said absolutely hilarious. I can't resist a FUNNY sporty read.

Soccer:
Defending Taylor by Miranda Kenneally (July 5th)
*Miranda Kenneally, need I say more?

The Season by Jonal Lisa Dyer and Stephen Dyer (July 12th)
*This one sounds hilarious. Sporty girl stuck in Debutant Land. Ouch

Gymnastics: 
Tumbling by Cada Carter (June 7th)
*Five points of view, and from reviews, done well.

Lessons In Falling by Diana Gallagher (June 16th)
*The cover drew me to this one. I hope the story feels just like it.

Congratulations on the World Cup Team USA!

"You can't be what you can't see," says ESPN soccer analyst and past World Cup winner Kate Markgraf.

We at Sporty Girl Books hope that this Team USA win inspires a whole new group of young players to take up soccer and any other sport they want. To keep the momentum going, major networks need to continue to embrace women's sports during prime time not because it is a duty, but because action-packed sporting events with highly-skilled athletes are good for business. Audiences want to see the amazing level of athleticism that happens in every women's sport on the national and international stages.

Although Sports Illustrated editor Andy Benoit has apologized for his tweet, "women's sports in general not worth watching," he aired an opinion I'd presume a lot of sports journalism gatekeepers are keeping to themselves.  Hopefully the television viewing numbers for this evening, again reveal that the market is strong for prime time women's sports. The more coverage and advertising dollars there are for women's sports, the more these athletes and their coaches will be paid.

The following is from the Women's Sports Foundation website:

Gender Inequity in Professional Sports

• Total prize money for the PGA tour, $256 million, is more than five times that of the LPGA tour, $50 million. Similar discrepancies exist throughout professional sports.

• For a WNBA player in the 2005 season, the minimum salary was $31,200, the maximum salary was $89,000, and the team salary cap was $673,000. For NBA players in the 2004-2005 season, the minimum salary was $385,277, the maximum salary was $15.355 million, and the team salary cap was $46 million.

• For finishing in third place in the 2003 Women's World Cup, each U.S. women's national soccer team member was awarded $25,000. They would have received $58,000 if they had won the Cup. For reaching the quarterfinal of the World Cup in 2002, the U.S. men's national soccer team members received $200,000 each. 

Celebrate Team USA's win with sparklers, paint your face red, white, and blue and then--as is the American way, write a letter to the editor or tweet to your favorite network. Let the editors and producers know that you want more women athletes and their sports featured during prime time. We shouldn't have to wait another 16 years for women athletes to get this kind of press.

-Anna E. Jordan

Watching the Women's World Cup with Sporty Girl Books

The FIFA Women's World Cup is well underway. Here are some of our favorite soccer books for your sporty girl reader.

Winners Never Quit by Mia Hamm, Illustrated by Carol Thompson

Mia Hamm, American soccer champion tells a true–life–inspired story of learning that winning and losing aren't as important as being part of a team. Part autobiography, the book includes photos of how the author grew up with soccer. From School Library Journal, "Mia's favorite sport is soccer but she hates losing. In fact, she dislikes it so much that she quits in the middle of a game. Upset about her attitude, her siblings do not let her participate the next day. Mia learns quickly that there will be times when she will score a goal and those when she will not, but playing the game is the most fun of all."


Soccer Girl: Cassie's Story by Kara Douglass Thom

We love the Go! Go! Sports Girls. When Cassie’s best friend Anna introduces her to soccer, it’s only a matter of time before Cassie loves the sport as much as her friend does. Cassie wants to play with Anna, but they’re assigned to different teams. What will happen when their two teams compete?

The Kicks: Saving the Team by Alex Morgan
Twelve-year-old Devin loves to play soccer. If she hadn’t just left Connecticut to move across the country, she would have been named seventh-grade captain on her school soccer team. But now that Devin is starting seventh grade in Kentville, California, all bets are off. After all, some of the best players on the US national team come from California. She’s sure to have stiff competition. Or so she thinks.

Soccer Show-Off by Jake Maddox
Gina loves playing soccer, and she can't wait to join the team at her new school. But when Gina tries to be the star of the team, her new teammates don't exactly appreciate it. Gina has to learn that teamwork is more important than winning before she can go back on the field.

Beyond Lucky by Sarah Aronson
Ari Fish believes in two things: his hero-Wayne Timcoe, the greatest soccer goalie to ever come out of Somerset Valley-and luck. So when Ari finds a rare and valuable Wayne Timcoe trading card, he's sure his luck has changed for the better. Especially when he's picked to be the starting goalie on his team. But when the card is stolen-and his best friend and the new girl on the team accuse each other of taking it-suddenly Ari can't save a goal, everyone is fighting, and he doesn't know who, or what, to believe in. Before the team falls apart, Ari must learn how to make his own luck, and figure out what it truly means to be a hero.

What is your favorite sporty girl soccer book?