rio de janeiro, brazil)

A competitive swimmer in Syria, Yusra Mardini never let go of her Olympic dream, even when civil war made it too difficult to train in her country. In 2016, she was allowed to compete in the Rio Olympics as part of a special team for refugees. This was only months after making a daring crossing of the Mediterranean Sea in a sinking boat that she helped tow to shore. Dozens of lives were saved on the voyage. Still training, Mardini also acts as a spokesperson and educator for the United Nations High Commission on Refugees.

Looks at the American women who run the gold in the 31st Olympic Games.

Meet Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps! Phelps?s life story is examined from his childhood in Maryland where he began swimming at age eleven on his way to five world championships. Learn about Phelps?s Olympic career in the Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London, and Rio de Janeiro games throughout which he won 23 gold, 3 silver, and 2 bronze medals.

Meet Olympic fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad! Muhammad?s life story is examined from her childhood in New Jersey where she began fencing at age thirteen, to a 2005 Junior Olympic championship and 2014 Senior World Team championship. Learn about Muhammad?s Olympic career at Rio de Janeiro games where she won a bronze medal.

Biography of Usain Bolt, a runner from Jamaica who competed in the 2008 and 2012, and won in the 2016 Olympic Games.

A biography of American swimmer Katie Ledecky, who won six medals in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

A biography of American gymnast Laurie Hernandez, who won two medals in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

A biography of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, winner of nine gold medals in the Olympics.

A biography of American Olympic-level gymnast Simone Biles.

Relies on fieldwork from the most dangerous corners of Rio to the halls of power in Washington, D.C., to expose how sports and politics have collided in spectacular fashion in Brazil's hosting of the World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games.