olympic games

"At the 2016 Summer Olympics, Simone Biles dazzled gymnastics fans across the globe with each jaw-dropping flip, twist, and dismount. Her record-breaking performance catapulted her to the top of the sport, and she quickly became a hero to young people. But well before Simone faced Olympic trials on the balance beam and rings, she confronted real-life challenges as a kid, as she moved in and out of foster care. With the support and love of her grandparents, plus her unwavering drive to make history on the ultimate stage in sports, she grew into an incredible role model and activist--and one of the greatest athletes of our time. Filled with sports action and bold comic-style illustrations, this inspiring biography recounts the incredible life of a world class gymnast"--From the publisher's web site.

"During the [Olympic] games the Nazi dictatorship was in many ways put on hold. [This book] offers a last glimpse of the vibrant, diverse life of the city in the 1920s and '30s that the Nazis aimed to destroy"--Dust jacket.

"Dreamers and Schemers chronicles how Los Angeles's pursuit and staging of the 1932 Olympic Games during the depths of the Great Depression helped fuel the city's transformation from a seedy frontier village to a world-famous metropolis. Leading that pursuit was the "Prince of Realtors," William May (Billy) Garland, a prominent figure in early Los Angeles. In important respects, the story of Billy Garland is the story of Los Angeles. After arriving in Southern California in 1890, he helped drive much of the city's historic expansion in the first two decades of the twentieth century, and then, from 1920 to 1932, he directed the city's bid for the 1932 Olympic Games. Garland's quest to host the Olympics provides an unusually revealing window onto a particular time, place, and way of life. Reconstructing the narrative from Garland's visionary notion to its consequential aftermath, Barry Siegel shows how one man's grit and imagination made California history"--Provided by publisher.

Presents the memoirs of the 2000 Summer Olympics gold medal winner Rulon Gardner as he describes growing up on his Mormon family's dairy farm in Wyoming, his struggles with learning disabilities, and success in the sport of wrestling.

A nonfiction graphic work that describes African American runner Jesse Owens winning four gold medals in the 1936 summer Olympics in Nazi Germany.

The author shares her story of survival as a Syrian refugee stranded in the waters between Syria and Greece in a sinking boat. Highlights how she and her older sister, Sara, heroically pulled the boat to the shore as they swam through the choppy sea. Later, Yusra bravely goes after her dream of being an Olympic swimmer--a goal she attains when she swims in the 2016 Olympics.

"Fierce competitor. World Cup winner. Role model. U.S. Women's Soccer star Alex Morgan has earned each of these impressive titles throughout her incredible career. As a young girl growing up in Southern California, she dreamed of being a professional soccer player, fighting to compete on the international stage against the world's greatest athletes. Flash forward to the present and Alex Morgan has emerged as the face of U.S. Women's soccer, famous for her clutch, late-game goals, and an inspiration to kids across the country. Bestselling author Dan Wetzel details the rise of an American champion in this uplifting biography for young readers, complete with dynamic comic-style illustrations"--From the publisher's web site.

"Seen around the world, John Carlos and Tommie Smith's Black Power salute on the 1968 Olympic podium sparked controversy and career fallout. Yet their show of defiance remains one of the most iconic images of Olympic history and the Black Power movement. Here is the remarkable story of one of the men behind the salute, lifelong activist John Carlos"--Provided by publisher.

After he accidentally injures a teammate during relay race practice, thirteen-year-old Nate and his cousin Rachel travel back in time to meet Jesse Owens, and get a chance to see him run in the 1936 Olympics--and almost lose the Sports Illustrated magazine that is their ticket back to the present.