Athlete Biography

Girls' athletic participation in school and community sports programs is skyrocketing. Girls now comprise 33 percent of all high school athletes, representing a dramatic increase from four percent who participated in 1971, the year before the enactment of Title IX. You Go, Girl! is a collection of first person insights, thoughts, and stories from successful women in the world of sports.

Athletes and the sports they play are popular across generations. Black athletes throughout time have become legends in their sports. They help shape the game, create change, and continue to break barriers in sports where they've been historically underrepresented. Their talent and passion inspire present and future players. Find out more about athletes such as Simone Manuel, Satchel Paige, and Maya Moore and celebrate their achievements in sports.

A history of the activism and achievement of African American athletes from Jesse Owens to Serena Williams to Colin Kaepernick, who advanced the cause of social justice through their outspokenness, commitment, and integrity. Muhammad Ali refused to fight in a war he believed was immoral. Wilma Rudolph retired from track and field to campaign for civil rights. Taking a Knee, Taking a Stand tells their stories and the stories of other prominent African American male and female athletes who often risked their careers to fight racial discrimination and promote social justice.

Women don't take up triathlon in their 40s, right? Wrong! That was exactly what 41-year-old Debs did. Not caring that she was more than a bit on the heavy side, and diabetic to boot, she signed up for her first triathlon.

Carmelo Anthony has had an incredible basketball career. As a freshman at Syracuse University in 2003, he led his team to victory in the national championship game. Next, Carmelo joined the National Basketball Association's (NBA) Denver Nuggets for the 2003-2004 season. As one of the best scorers in basketball, he helped turn the Nuggets into a winning team. Carmelo loved playing in front of his hometown fans after being traded to the New York Knicks during the 2010-2011 season. Learn more about one of the NBA's biggest stars.

In 2013, New York Yankees relief pitcher Mariano Rivera announced he would retire after playing 19 seasons in the major leagues. Recruited in 1990 at the age of 20, Mariano racked up many astounding pitching records over the next two decades. In 2011, he closed out a game against the Minnesota Twins for the 602nd save of his career, making him the top closer in history. Follow Mariano's inspiring story from Puerto Caimito, Panama, to the mound at Yankee Stadium.

Do you play sports? Maybe you dream about scoring a goal on the soccer field or hitting a home run in baseball. Perhaps you're thinking about trying a new sport, but you're still not sure. In We Got Game! you'll meet 35 female athletes who played hard, broke records, and inspired girls around the world. Some of these athletes have retired. Others are still competing. But they have one thing in common: They all got game!

Working through times of setbacks and Grand Slam glory, Serena Williams has become a role model for a new generation of tennis players, and it's all captured in this biography. From an early age, Serena trained to be a force on the tennis court. Alongside her talented sister Venus, she rose up through the ranks until she was competing in - and dominating - the world's most elite tournaments. Follow along as she amazes everyone with her powerful, strategic playing style and also speaks out against racism and sexism in the tennis world.

Before he became one of the most famous basketball players on the planet, before he began speaking out for justice, LeBron James was just a kid. In this chapter book biography by acclaimed author Andrew Maraniss, listeners learn more about the life and work of LeBron James—from growing up with a single mother in Akron, Ohio, to his journey to the NBA and ten NBA championships, to his social justice work creating I PROMISE and speaking up for Black Lives Matter.

Jesse Owens is one of the most famous athletes of all time, but he experienced discrimination throughout his athletic career, such as having to stay at a different hotel to his teammates, because of the colour of his skin. However, he went on to win an incredible four gold medals at the Berlin 1936 Olympic Games. This biography, ideal for kids aged 8-11, charts the major events of Jesse's life: from his childhood growing up on a farm in Alabama before his family moved to Ohio in search of better opportunities.

Right out of college, Abby Wambach shot to fame in the United States soccer scene. In 2002, she was picked second in the Women's United Soccer Association draft by the Washington Freedom. She also became a leading scorer on the US Women's National Team. After winning the 2012 FIFA Women's World Player of the Year award and two Olympic gold medals, Abby is still going strong. She holds the world record for international goals. Follow Abby's story from her beginnings at University of Florida to becoming an international soccer superstar.