Athlete Biography

The man they call 'Silk' was the ultimate team player - versatile, highly skilled and hard at the contest, with an enviable reputation for being able to stand up in big moments. Burgoyne is a proud Indigenous man, with a football pedigree that is a story in itself. Starting with his father's time at the Koonibba Roosters, the oldest surviving Indigenous footy club in Australia, the Burgoyne name is directly linked to Gavin Wanganeen, Eddie Betts, Graham Johncock and many other AFL stars. In his 400-plus games, Burgoyne had only two coaches.

This amazing memoir follows the story of Reggie Williams - ex-NFL linebacker, former Disney executive, renaissance man, and the epitome of determination in the face of extreme challenges.

Roderick Sewell was an active kid. Born without tibias in both of his legs Roderick wrestled with his cousins and climbed every surface of his grandmother’s home. When he was two years old his mother, Marian, made the incredibly tough choice to have his legs amputated to save his life. That didn’t stop Roderick, a rambunctious toddler who could hardly sit still while his body healed. But when his mother's modest income couldn’t cover Roderick’s prosthetics, she made another impossible decision: to leave her demanding job working for the US Navy and go on unemployment.

Are you hoping to find a book that can both engage your child as well as teach them valuable life lessons? This audiobook is the compromise you’ve been looking for with life stories of some of the most famous athletes of all time. We discuss all of the challenges they faced in life, how those obstacles made them stronger, and the people they became. We cover every sport from football, baseball, and basketball to gymnastics and surfing. This will engage every young sports fan as they learn about their favorite current stars as well as some of the most influential athletes of the past.

My Hidden Race is the story of Olympic medalist Anyika Onuora, who stood on the podium at every major championship in athletics. This book won't go into detail about the technicalities of her sport or the beauty of the Olympic spirit however. In the era of the Black Lives Matter and Me Too, this is an unflinching testimony of what it takes to pursue your dreams as a Black British woman against all odds. This three-time Olympian will lift the lid on the reality of life as a black female athlete in Britain in a way that nobody else has done before her.

This book takes you from after Deborah completes her Ironman triathlon and the coming years through global pandemics, injury and illness.

Following Zion Williamson's record-breaking season at Duke University and his electric NBA debut, basketball fans are already calling him the NBA's Crown Prince, drawing comparisons to all-time greats like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant. Now a New Orleans Pelican, he's set out to prove that he truly deserves to be the new King of Basketball. But for all the expectations and accolades, Zion remains a humble, dedicated teammate, and a terrific role model for young basketball fans across the country.

In 2016, Kevin Durant shocked the basketball world when he decided to sign with the Golden State Warriors. Many questioned why one of the league's best players would join a team that was already stacked with talent―didn't he want to make a name for himself as the sole leader of a team? Kevin would have the last laugh, winning two championships and putting to rest any questions about his incredible legacy. In choosing to tune out the noise, he instead set his sights on success, maintaining the same winning attitude that has helped him achieve and overcome ever since he was kid.

In Epic Athletes: Stephen Curry, acclaimed journalist and bestselling author Dan Wetzel tells the inspiring, electrifying story of the NBA superstar, beginning a new series of sports biographies for young listeners!

In 2018, Patrick Mahomes stepped onto the gridiron as the new, inexperienced quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs. Just twenty-two-years old at the time, football fans wondered if this young man could live up to lofty expectations. Little did they know, a star was about to be born.

In this inspirational biography of a living legend, acclaimed sports writer and bestselling author Dan Wetzel chronicles Tom Brady's rise from a backup quarterback at the University of Michigan to an MVP on the biggest stage in sports—the Super Bowl.

Lionel Messi has taken the soccer world by storm. He scored the most goals in a season. He's racked up championships. There was even a statue built in his honor. Despite the accolades, he's still hungry for more goals, more championships, more opportunities to shine on the soccer pitch. Messi's drive to succeed has motivated him ever since he first stepped on his local, worn down field as a kid.

From her start playing paddle tennis on the streets of Harlem as a young teenager to her eleven Grand Slam tennis wins to her professional golf career, Althea Gibson became the most famous Black sportswoman of the mid-twentieth century. In her unprecedented athletic career, she was the first African American to win titles at the French Open, Wimbledon, and the U.S. Open. In this first full-scale biography, Ashley Brown narrates the public career and private struggles of Althea Gibson (1927–2003).

For nearly a decade, Simone Biles has dazzled gymnastics fans across the globe with jaw-dropping flips, twists, and dismounts. Her record-breaking performances have catapulted her to the top of the sport and made her 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.

With her shooting range, swagger, and play-making prowess, the electrifying Caitlin Clark became one of the greatest college basketball players of all time and helped skyrocket women’s basketball to a new level of popularity. Now in the WNBA with the Indiana Fever, she’s poised to take professional basketball by storm as well.

Serena Williams is no stranger to overcoming obstacles. From growing up in a tough neighborhood to combatting racism to weathering severe health issues, there is no challenge she can't defeat, no hurdle that will get in the way of her unwavering desire to be the best tennis player in the world. As a little girl, Serena spent years training at her local court with her father and older sister, Venus, dreaming of one day winning Grand Slam titles and earning the number one ranking in the world.

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.

Young minds are constantly seeking direction and inspiration. But in today’s environment full of distractions, it’s not easy to find the right resource for what kids really need. That’s why this book is so timely. This book understands the hurdles kids face – the need for role models, the struggle with challenges, and the desire for meaningful connections. It’s the solution you’ve been looking for: a collection of 15 awe-inspiring stories from basketball legends, each a testament to overcoming adversity and achieving greatness.

In August 1939, Alice Marble graced the cover of Life magazine, photographed by Alfred Eisenstaedt. She was a glamorous worldwide celebrity, having that year won singles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles tennis titles at both Wimbledon and the US Open, then an unprecedented feat. Yet today one of America's greatest female athletes and most charismatic characters is largely forgotten. Queen of the Court places her back on center stage.

CeCé Telfer is a warrior. The first openly transgender woman to win an NCAA championship, she has contended with transphobia on and off the track since childhood. Now, she stands at the crossroads of a national and international conversation about equity in sports, forced to advocate for her personhood and rights at every turn. After spending years training for the 2024 Olympics, Telfer has been sidelined and silenced more times than she can count. But she's never been good at taking no for an answer. Make It Count is Telfer's raw and inspiring story.