WOW Dozen: Inspiring Journeys: Overcoming Adversity on the Road to Olympic Victory
In July 2024, the world's attention will turn to Paris, France, as athletes from across the globe come together to compete in the summer Olympic Games. Millions of spectators will watch as these Olympic athletes showcase their physical talents in running, jumping, throwing, rowing, cycling, tumbling, diving and swimming events among others, all competing for a chance to write their names in sporting history.
Olympic athletes, past and present, are often celebrated for their physical achievements, but their journeys to the medal podium are also filled with inspiring stories of overcoming adversity. This month, the WOW Dozen features stories about past Olympic athletes who overcame significant obstacles including racism, sexism, poverty and illness to reach the peak of their sports. Notable stories include Sammy Lee, who practiced his diving skills in a backyard sandpit due to segregated pools, eventually winning gold and bronze medals, and Billy Mills who overcame personal obstacles and surpassed expectations with his remarkable victory in the 10,000-meter race at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
This WOW Dozen features stories about courageous individuals who had the determination and confidence necessary to succeed against all odds. Sharing these Olympians' stories celebrates their lives and teaches valuable lessons, inspiring the next generation.
Billy Mills, a member of the Oglala Lakota tribe, is renowned for overcoming many personal obstacles to achieve a stunning upset victory in the 10,000-meter race at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics.
The inspiring story of Willye White, the first female athlete to participate in five Olympic Games, who endured childhood hardships, and gender and racial discrimination to become a world-class athlete and civil rights advocate.
Wilma’s demand to desegregate a home-town parade held to honor her 1960 Olympic victory in the 100-meter sprint is one of many acts this athlete commanded in her pursuit of civil rights.
Discipline, determination and dedication helped Clara Hughes become one of only a handful of athletes who have won multiple medals in both the summer Olympic and winter Olympic games.
Long before Usain Bolt won a gold medal, sprinter Arthur Wint won medals at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics, making him the first Jamaican athlete to win medals at the Olympics.
In this middle-grade novel, Caster Semenya, a South African middle-distance runner, shares the significant challenges and controversy she has faced over her natural testosterone levels, highlighting the complexities of gender identity and fairness in women's sports.
The harrowing true story of Yusra’s journey from war-torn Syria across the Aegean Sea to safety and the opportunity to fulfill her dream of competitively swimming in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.
With the financial support of her coach and fans at Winthrop College, Ludy Godbold travels to Paris and wins a gold medal in the shot put competition in the inaugural 1922 US Women’s Olympic.
Runner Sonia O'Sullivan achieved international fame by winning a gold medal for Ireland and setting a record in the 2000-meter race at the 1994 Olympics, which stood until 2017.
When Eltheda found peace from the aches and pains of polio while swimming as a child, she never dreamed that she would later win gold medals in competitive swimming at the Olympic Games.
Because of segregated pools in the 1930s, Sammy Lee practiced his diving skills by jumping into a sandpit in his backyard, which paid off later when he won gold and bronze medals in diving at the 1948 and 1952 Olympics.
In this award-winning graphic novel, Tommie Smith chronicles his life from rural Texas to 1960’s California to the Olympic podium in 1968 where he raised his fist to represent freedom and human rights.
WOW Dozen features a list of 12 global books for children and adolescents around a theme, topic, issue or personal favorites. Each Dozen consists of ten newly-published titles with two older "must have" books. Please share or recommend additional books that fit the theme in the comments section or on social media using #WOWDozen. Use the printer icon in the upper left corner of this post to print or save this list as a PDF.
