As I first talked about a few months ago, the Olympics (and particularly the Summer Olympics) is my all-time favorite sports event. So, when the Summer Olympics rolls around every four years, I turn into quite the fanatic…in my TV viewing and my reading!
8 Books About the Olympics
In the Water They Can’t See You Cry: A Memoir
Seven-time Olympic swimming medalist Amanda Beard candidly talks about what it was like to be in the spotlight at such a young age, her struggle with depression and cutting, her experimentation with drugs, and her return to swimming after having a baby.
Little Girls in Pretty Boxes: The Making and Breaking of Elite Gymnasts and Figure Skaters
An investigation of the grueling training practices in elite gymnastics and figure skating…and the physical impact on young girls.
One Day in September
The story of the 1972 terrorist attack at the Munich Olympics and Israel’s operation (“Wrath of God”) to hunt down every one of the surviving terrorist. There was also an award-winning documentary of the same name that was released in conjunction with the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
Rome 1960: The Olympics That Changed the World
I’m listening to the audio of this book right now. I’m about halfway through and am learning a lot about the first Olympics that contained a doping scandal, the beginnings of sponsorship deals for athletes, and a teenage Cassius Clay/Muhammad Ali.
The Boys in the Boat
This book has been everywhere…but it really is one of my favorite books about the Olympics. I got wrapped up in the excitement of Joe Rantz and the University of Washington rowers’ quest to win gold and loved the historical background of the 1936 Berlin Olympics, which was used as a propaganda instrument by the Nazis.
The Secret Olympian: The Inside Story of the Olympic Experience
A member of the 2004 Great Britain Olympic team gives an honest and juicy behind the scenes account of the Olympic experience – his own and that of fellow Olympians. This is the Olympics “gossip” book!
The Three-Year Swim Club: The Untold Story of Maui’s Sugar Ditch Kids and Their Quest for Olympic Glory
The true story of a Hawaiian sugar plantation elementary school teacher (Soichi Sakamoto) who trained (starting in an irrigation ditch!) a group of mostly Japanese-American children to swim for the Olympics in the late 1930’s/40’s. With all the history about training methods, this is truly a swimming nerd’s book!
You Will Know Me: A Novel
A dark, twisty novel set in the world of elite competitive gymnastics. I just read this one and I couldn’t put it down. It’s going on my 2016 Summer Reading Guide and my Sports Books list.
And a bonus documentary…
The Last Gold: The Greatest Untold Story in Olympic Swimming History
This documentary about the U.S. women’s quest to beat the steroid-riddled East Germans to win just one swimming gold medal at the 1976 Montreal Olympics premiered at the L.A. Film Festival this summer. I’m still trying to find out how to watch it at home. It appears to only be available through in person showings at this point.
Stay tuned for a few more Olympics-themed posts over the next few weeks.
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Books that can actually get me interested in sports get extra points in my book. The Boys in the Boat was a great one — I loved the intersection with history and biography. The Three-Year Swim Club sounds like another one I’d enjoy. Thanks for the great list!
I love sports, but was not interested in rowing at all…and Boys in the Boat got me fascinated. I guess that’s the mark of a truly amazing write and/or story!
Loved Boys in the Boat. I was lucky enough to hear the author speak last year, too. And I bought the THree-year Swim Club for my mom as she is kinda obsessed with Hawaiian history. Her favorite hotel on Oahu is on the south end of that park (near the pool ruins).
That’s awesome! That you got to hear Brown speak and that your mom has a personal connection to the Sugar Ditch kids pool! Has she read it yet?
I’ve read 3 of those books and set another one aside. I think I’m the one person who doesn’t care about the Olympics. :/
For not caring about the Olympics, you sure have read a decent number of books about them!
I’ve got the first two sitting on my Kindle and bookshelf respectively…can’t wait for opening ceremonies!
Haha – opening ceremonies is actually the thing I care least about. I’m more into the competition once it starts on Saturday! And I read Little Girls in Pretty Boxes years ago and kind of want to re-read it after reading You Will Know Me recently. Another one I just came across is Dominique Moceanu’s memoir Off Balance…apparently she really skewers the Karolyis and their training methods.
I really like this list and cannot wait for Friday night’s opening ceremony! I’m due to go to a Lula Roe party but have already mentioned to the host that I might have to arrive and leave really early. Important things await on the t.v. I’m not sure of my reading next week. 😉
I’ve been meaning to ask you if you’d read Pretty Boxes! That book was an eye-opener. And you are exactly right- Boy in the Boat is the best Olympic book. Actually, an amazing book all the way around.
Are you going to watch the Greg Louganis documentary? It’s on my DVR.
I feel like I’ve seen it? I remember watching something about him awhile back, but I need to re-watch I think. PS- he’s making an appearance on my Olympics post for Tuesday 🙂
I’d add Gold by Chris Cleave to this list. And perhaps Barracuda by Chris Tslokas (i can’t remember if it is about the Olympics or Pan Am games). Both are fiction. But who am i kidding? As much as i think i’m not going to watch the olympics, I’ll get sucked in.
Yes to Gold – I totally forgot that one and it’s been on my TBR forever! I need to get to it!
Thank you so much for this Sarah!! I’ve heard amanda beard’s book is good, and am interested in reading it. the secret Olympian sounds awesome! i love a good gossip book!
And double dose for Olympics gossip!
I was thinking of you this week when a news segment showed the US Olympic team’s Instagram. Have you followed it? or seen the video segments of the swim team singing in the car? Hope you’re having a great time watching the Olympics this weekend!
Yes – I saw those and am following the IG accounts! But I’m having to watch some of it on DVR delay so am staying off social media more than I’d like! Will pick through all of it once I’m caught up!