Olympic Reads

Learn more about the Summer Olympics with these reads for adults, teens, and kids. Available to borrow at SCLS.

Updated August 9, 2024
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Aquatics
Bolte, Mari
Paper Book
"Celebrate the Summer Olympic Games with this elementary-level introduction to aquatic sports, including swimming, diving, and water polo. Includes biographical facts about the most decorated female Olympic swimmer, Katie Ledecky."--
Gymnastics /
Bolte, Mari,
Paper Book
"Celebrate the Summer Olympic Games with this elementary-level introduction to the sport of gymnastics and its floor and apparatus events. Includes biographical facts about Hmong-American artistic gymnast Suni Lee"--
Rowing /
Bolte, Mari,
Paper Book
"Celebrate the Summer Olympic Games with this elementary-level introduction to the sport of rowing. Includes biographical facts about English rower and gold medalist Steven Redgrave, whom many consider the best rower of all time"--
Wrestling /
Bolte, Mari,
Paper Book
"Celebrate the Summer Olympic Games with this elementary-level introduction to the combat sport of wrestling, both freestyle and Greco-Roman events. Includes biographical facts about American freestyle medalist Jordan Burroughs"--
The boys in the boat : nine Americans and their epic quest for gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics
Brown, Daniel
Paper Book
For readers of Laura Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit" and "Unbroken," the dramatic story of the American rowing team that stunned the world at Hitler's 1936 Berlin Olympics " "Daniel James Brown's robust book tells the story of the University of Washington's 1936 eight-oar crew and their epic quest...
Cycling /
Gish, Ashley
Paper Book
"Celebrate the Summer Olympic Games with this elementary-level introduction to cycling, the sport known for speed and endurance on bikes. Includes biographical facts about BMX cyclist and gold medalist Charlotte Worthington"--
Fencing /
Gish, Ashley
Paper Book
"Celebrate the Summer Olympic Games with this elementary-level introduction to the sport of fencing and its three events: foil, saber, and épée. Includes biographical facts about French gold-medalist Romain Cannone"--
Triathlon /
Gish, Ashley
Paper Book
"Celebrate the Summer Olympic Games with this elementary-level introduction to triathlon, the sporting event that includes swimming, biking, and running all in one. Includes biographical facts about Flora Duffy, Bermudas first ever Olympic gold medalist"--
Unbroken : a World War II story of survival, resilience, and redemption
Hillenbrand, Laura
Paper Book
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER * The incredible true story of survival and salvation that is the basis for two major motion pictures: Unbroken and Unbroken: Path to Redemption. "Extraordinarily moving . . . a powerfully drawn survival epic."--The Wall Street...
Nazi games :
Large, David Clay.
Paper Book
Athletics and politics collide in a critical event for Nazi Germany and the contemporary world. The torch relay -- that staple of Olympic pageantry -- first opened the summer games in 1936 in Berlin. Proposed by the Nazi Propaganda Ministry, the relay was to carry the symbolism of a new...
Just add water :
Ledecky, Katie,
Paper Book
A New York Times bestselling memoir from Olympic gold medalist, world champion, and the most decorated US female Olympian in history: Katie Ledecky. Katie Ledecky has won more individual Olympic races than any female swimmer in history. She is a four-time Olympian, a nine...
Swifter, higher, stronger : a photographic history of the Summer Olympics
Macy, Sue
Paper Book
Let the games begin again! Acclaimed sports writer Sue Macy's comprehensive portrait of the Summer Olympics has now been fully updated for the 2008 games in Beijing, China. This new edition includes a complete retrospective of the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece. The new text will also incorporate...
Simone Biles
Magoon, Kekla
Paper Book
Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Simone Biles! Simone Biles was raised by her grandparents and had to overcome...
Rome 1960 :
Maraniss, David
Paper Book
From the New York Times-bestselling author of Clemente and When Pride Still Mattered comes the blockbuster story of the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome--17 days that helped define the modern world.
Hour of the Olympics /
Osborne, Mary Pope
Paper Book
The #1 bestselling chapter book series of all time celebrates 25 years with new covers and a new, easy-to-use numbering system! No girls allowed at the Olympic Games! That's the rule when the Magic Tree House whisks Jack and Annie back to ancient Greece. But when Annie tells jack to go...
The horsewoman : a novel
Patterson, James
CD
This "hugely entertaining, riveting page-turner" (Louise Penny) follows the complicated relationship between mother and daughter as they face off in the Olympics--and into a ride they can barely control. Maggie Atwood and Becky McCabe, mother and daughter, both champion...
No limits : the will to succeed
Phelps, Michael
Paper Book
"When I'm focused, there is not one single thing, person, anything that can stand in the way of my doing something. There is not. If I want something bad enough, I feel I'm gonna get there."Michael Phelps is one of the greatest competitors the world has ever seen. From teen sensation in Sydney to...
Naomi Osaka :
Rothenberg, Ben
Paper Book
Most tennis fans met the Haitian-American/Japanese player Naomi Osaka for the first time as they watched her win the 2018 US Open in an unforgettably dramatic and controversial match against Serena Williams. Since then, Osaka has galvanized the tennis world not only by winning three more grand slams...
Triumph :
Schaap, Jeremy.
Paper Book
From the ESPN national correspondent and author of the New York Times bestseller Cinderella Man comes the remarkable behind-the-scenes story of a defining moment in sports and world history. In 1936, against a backdrop of swastikas flying and a storm troopers goose-stepping, an...
Chalked up :
Sey, Jennifer
Paper Book
Updated With a New Introduction "I am grateful to Jennifer Sey for sharing such an honest account of her experiences as an elite gymnast. She has eloquently and fairly exposed a dark side to our sport that parents have long needed to be made aware of." --Dominique Moceanu, Olympic...
Simone Biles /
Sâanchez Vegara, Ma Isabel
Paper Book
In this book from the best-selling Little People, BIG DREAMS series, discover the inspiring life of Simone Biles, the record-breaking gymnast and mental-health advocate. Growing up in foster care, Simone's gymnastics training was an anchor in her life. She first tried the sport...
Usain Bolt /
Sâanchez Vegara, Ma Isabel
Paper Book
Learn about the incredible life of Usain Bolt, the record-breaking athlete who's charisma and drive has won his fans across the world. Growing up in a rural town in Jamaica, Usain was a standout cricketer and sprinter from a young age. His school coach noticed his talent, and by age...
The other Olympians :
Waters, Michael,
Paper Book
A Finalist for the 2025 Lambda Literary Award for LGBTQ+ Nonfiction. A Finalist for the 2024 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for History and the 2025 Mark Lynton History Prize. Named one of the Best Books of 2024 by The New Yorker, NPR and BookPage. ...
Epic athletes.
Wetzel, Dan,
Paper Book
Kicking off his new series of sports biographies for young readers, journalist Dan Wetzel tells the inspiring true life story of a US Women's Soccer star in Epic Athletes: Alex Morgan. Featuring graphic-style illustrations by Cory Thomas! Fierce...

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