By Proteeti Sinha, Swimming World College Intern.
We all can agree that swimming is the best sport in the world. We also know that many athletes enjoy reading as a way to enrich their minds and draw inspiration. What better way to engage with your favorite sport while motivating yourself to achieve your goals than by reading books about swimming, written by swimmers?
With the 2020 Tokyo Olympics quickly approaching, here are five memoirs from Olympic champions that all swimmers should read!
1. Making Waves: My Journey to Winning Olympic Gold and Defeating the East German Doping Program, by Chris Epting and Shirley Babashoff
Photo Courtesy: Swimming World Magazine
At the 1976 Montreal Olympics – the height of the East German doping scandal – Shirley Babashoff won five medals: four silver and one gold. In her memoir, she talks about her suspicions about the East German women who had deep voices, seemed masculine and barely looked tired after swimming their races. Despite swimming best times, Babashoff placed second in all her best events. Refusing to congratulate the East German winners, she was given the unfortunate nickname of “Surly Shirley.” The fall of the Berlin Wall in 1991, however, led to revelations about the state-sponsored doping scheme in East Germany. This proved Babashoff right, but the East German winners were never stripped of their gold medals. Babashoff’s book is a story of resilience, grit and will power. It is an exceptional book that every swimmer should read.
2. Swimming Toward the Gold Lining: How Jessica Hardy Turned Her Wounds Into Wisdom, by Jessica Hardy
Photo Courtesy: Griffin Scott
This memoir focuses on Jessica Hardy’s journey: dealing with failure, great successes, failing a drug test, and an awe-inspiring comeback. Hardy’s sheer determination and spirit shines through in this book. In Federal Way, Wash., shortly after her name was cleared, she time-trialed the 50 breaststroke and broke the World Record. Her time was 29.95, thus making her the first woman to breach the 30 second barrier. The very next day, she lowered the 100 breaststroke World Record, in the process re-breaking her own 50-meter world record with a split time of 29.80. Swimming Towards the Gold Lining is an inspirational read.
3. Body Lengths, by Leisel Jones and Felicity McLean
Photo Courtesy: ISHOF
In a brave retelling of her story, Leisel Jones talks about her journey to winning an individual Olympic gold, life in the spotlight, and the obstacles along the way. Jones offers a candid and sometimes alarming insight into the very real body image issues that many athletes face. Her book highlights the need to have conversations about the sensitive but important topics of mental wellness and having a positive body image. One of the greatest breaststrokers in history, Jones’ story is one of courage, heartbreak, and grit – a book that should not be missed.
4. No Limits: The Will to Succeed, by Michael Phelps and Alan Abrahamson
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Focusing on Michael Phelps’ historic eight gold medals at the Beijing Olympics, this memoir is both motivational and humorous with strong emotional undertones. It probably seems silly to call this book a classic, but in the swimming memoir universe, this book is one of a kind. Above all, it reminds you to set big goals and keep striving to reach them. From the mysterious dreams of 3:07 to Phelps-recommended food spots in Ann Arbor, Mich., this is surely a page-turner. There’s a whole section devoted to his orders from his favorite eateries! Even if you don’t like reading about food, this is a must-read for everybody.
5. Relentless Spirit: The Unconventional Raising of a Champion, by Missy Franklin, D.A. Franklin, Dick Franklin and Daniel Paisner
Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick
Written by Missy Franklin and her parents, this incredible book offers a unique insight into Franklin’s journey. It speaks of her greatest successes in contrast with her biggest disappointments. Her indomitable spirit shines through every page. Franklin talks about her faith, friendships, training and family. Notably, Franklin’s parents also talk about their perspective of her swimming career – thus making this a great read for both swimmers and swim parents!
Which of these memoirs is on your reading list? Comment below!
–All commentaries are the opinion of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Swimming World Magazine nor its staff.
Wonderful recommendations!
Great! Keep it up Proteeti!
Even though I am not part of the swimming world, after reading this piece I feel like reading all the books recommended, “Body lengths” being first in the queue! Great job!
One more book should be added to this list – “In the water, they cannot see you cry” by Amanda Beard
Yes! I love that book as well!
Very useful and inspirational.
Veerendra Shariwan
A wonderful collection of fascinating memoirs recommended – must read not only for swimmers in particular but also for all sports lovers in general!
This is a very well thought out list of inspirational books everyone should read!
I would take any memoir that Chris Epting consults with very seriously. There’s not too much this man doesn’t know about. He has co-written many books and memoirs with various notarieties, ranging from musicians, actors, athletes, politicians and geographical areas. He has taught and given many speeches regarding a range of subjects. He has won many awards, has been hand picked to give various presentations and has been on various documentaries.
I didn’t know that – that’s so cool! I loved Making Waves.
Beautiful write up
Sharing the article with the young swimmers of the family with a hope that they will derive benefit
Very informative. Hope to read the books.
Very Helpful recommendations
A nice write up. Very inspirational and helpful recommendations.
Very well written! An inspiring collection of books to read
Amazing job , pro , will definitely help a lot of swimmers and world sporstman . Well done
Thanks for the recommendations, can’t wait to read these books!
Lovely to see Proteeti make a foray into giving back to the swimming world through her recommendations. Each synopsis makes a non-swimming world me interested in scanning through these. Keep it up!
Well done Proteeti! You have made super recommendations of five outstanding champions who have shared their own unique experiences through their memoirs. I have read Phelps’ ‘No Limits’ and would love to read the others too in no particular order of preference. Each a fascinating story for sure. Cheers!
Thanks for sharing your insights on these memoirs. It seems these memoirs will inspire not only swimmers but also other readers with a zeal to learn.
For me, Making Waves was very interesting since it was in news when I was swimming.Haven’t read other books except No Limits.. but would love to read them. Good recommendation.
I recall the circumstances surrounding the State-sponsored Doping done to East German swimmers : names like Cornelia Ender come back haunting me even now . My full sympathy for Shirley Babashoff !!!
Very inspirational !! Even though I am not a swimmer would love to read these books ….
So much to learn
So much to read
Thank you, Proteeti, for your recommendations. These books are inspirational not only to swimmers and other sportspersons, but to everyone else as well.
Wonderfully written. Very inspirational. Please keep on writing.
Excellent recommendations – very insightful!
Thank you for these recommendations!
I do not belong to the world of swimming, but as a sports enthusiast and a book lover, must commend Proteeti on her choice of books. Nicely summarised, easy to read, brings out the core of each book in a para, which is tougher than one can imagine. Well done, Pro! Keep swimming, keep writing,. You have the will to succeed, so there are No Limits !
Wonderful collections and recommendation.
Excellent! Keep reading, inspiring and being inspired.
As a fellow swimmer, I must say this is a wonderful choice of books, and you have done a great job in summarising them ?
Beautiful Write-uo Protitee. Carry-on with such wonderful articles
Hi.. Pro Congrats.. you are a source of inspiration God Bless ?
Very interesting synopses giving an insight into the courage and fight that it takes to be a champion. Useful and inspiring for non-swimmers as well!
Well articulated. These are truly inspirational books. I look forward to reading them
Nice write up Proteeti.Your summaries will interest the non-swimmers too to read up the books.The common thread in these stories goes beyond the water of the pool.These are stories of human struggle .They enrich everyone .
Nice writeup about inspirational personalities
Amazing proteeti. Very informative
What is so beautifully evident from your presentation is that you Love what you do and you are deeply observant of the same in others, relating to “those who have been on the path to glory”. Doing what one Loves is the highest seeking and the world is full of stories of “how fondly we remember those who fought to keep that seeking” from Van Gogh to so many others. Keep doing what you Love and Glory is sure to follow!!!
Congratulations on the internship, & what a great article to open with. And looks like you got a lot of good tips in the comments section too. Maybe you will make a list on swimming related movies some time? And if you ever do, please include the favorite movie of this genre for many of us who grew up in a certain place at a certain time – Kony https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0309778/
Hi.. Pro Congrats.. you are a source of inspiration God Bless ?
Hi.. Pro Congrats.. you are a source of inspiration God Bless ?
Thanks for sharing. Amazing to see how people overcome challenges and hurdles to become such inspirations for not only sports people but all of us thus inspiring generations to come to greatness
Thanks for the article Proteeti. All these books are great inspirations.
Pulling such a list together itself is a labour or love. Yet, I found a common thread — of grit and resilience powering excellence and achievement — in your selection. And that goes far beyond swimming. Keep it up!
Great recommendations, thank you!!
As a mother of a teenage swimmer, I am curious to read the Missy Franklin story. I am also interested in reading Michael’s recommendations for food in Ann Arbor, MI, a town that is near and dear to my heart as I am a University of Michigan graduate.
Stories of goals and grit are usually perceived as the prerogative of business leaders for some of us. This has opened up a whole new repertoire of reads! Thank you! Keep writing.
Good read not just for those in sport but also for anyone on life skills!! Good one Protiti.
Well-written…thanks Proteeti. This reminds me of the time spent in Ann Arbor, and the two world class swimmers I was fortunate to observe. I went to grad school with Kirsten Silvester, who used to swim for The Netherlands. Her fiancee and husband Eric Namesnik (“Snik” to the swimming world and friends) was a two time Olympic silver medalist. It was amazing to watch the hours of training, the strict diets, and the discipline it takes to get to the highest levels of any sport.