Aim for glory with the best international sports audiobooks

Competing at the top level is hard enough under normal circumstances, but the 18 athletes highlighted in this book raise the bar even higher. Under the cruel authority of Jim Crow, 18 African American athletes were sent to the 1936 Berlin Games. Facing racism from their American counterparts as well as the looming threat of Nazi Germany, these pioneering athletes forged deep bonds and victories on the world stage. The authors explore the well-known legend of track superstar Jesse Owens as well as a litany of lesser-known but equally intrepid athletes. Complemented by Leon Nixon’s impassioned vocal performance, this historical account is as compelling as it is necessary.

While the legend of the Miracle on Ice is well-known to many sports fans, Wayne Coffey’s *The Boys of Winter* provides a level of specificity and emotional nuance that elevates this historical watershed to even greater heights. Unlike many tellings of this modern myth, Coffey addresses the Soviet side of the story with as much attention to detail as Americans tend to enjoy. With hundreds of interviews and countless hours of research under his belt, Coffey’s contribution to this legendary underdog story manages to broaden and deepen the physical, political, and emotional struggles of all parties involved to provide a truly holistic account.

Coming off of a tremendously successful run in the 2016 games, four-time gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles will be one of the most exciting athletes to track in 2021. Before the trials begin, get to know Simone in this tell-all autobiography. Simone’s inspiring tale is one of resilience through hardship, faith, family, and an unwavering belief in oneself. Narrated by the tremendously talented Imani Parks, this audiobook will be sure to stick the landing.

With one foot in history and the other in drama, this true story details the terrorist bombing at the 1996 games in Atlanta and the bold security guard at the center of it all: Richard Jewell. This detailed account of the larger-than-life story was brought into being by Kent Alexander and Kevin Salwen, and was used as a source for the blockbuster film Richard Jewell, directed by Clint Eastwood. Set in the sweltering streets of Atlanta in the throes of international competition, The Suspect deftly weaves together a tale of heroism, the rise of domestic terror in the United States and the advent of the 24/7 news cycle into something truly greater than the sum of its parts.

This brilliantly detailed historical record shines a light on the women who fielded America’s team at the 1936 Games in Nazi Germany. These inspiring figures led a charge of feminism in prewar America and helped rewrite history as the first integrated women’s team in Olympic history. Acclaimed author Elise Hooper zeroes in on some of the most notable figures on the team, like the ground-breaking Betty Robinson and her performance as part of the first-ever women’s division in track and field. Hooper attacks this essential subject with a level of detail, ethos, and emotional resonance that is gripping to hear.

With such a dominant track record on the soccer pitch, gold medalist and two-time Women’s World Cup champion Megan Rapinoe is nothing short of a female soccer icon. In her self-narrated memoir, Rapinoe details her influences, upbringing, and successes with as much grace and honesty as she does her failures and insecurities. As an important athlete, Rapinoe understands the impact her influence can cause. In One Life, she details her efforts on and off the pitch, including her push for LBTQIA+ rights as an important spokesperson for the community. This account is important not only as a personal story, but as a blueprint for how we can all use our platforms to enact positive change.

As the most decorated American basketball player in history, Teresa Edwards’s four gold medals and one bronze medal speak for themselves. Her titanic influence in the WNBA can’t be overstated, and her impact on the game at large is felt to this day. In this Audible Original, Edwards revisits her accomplishments, details her greatest obstacles, and shares her wisdom in her own voice. While this is a story about a basketball legend, Edwards proves that her words apply to anyone who has a big dream and the elbow grease to see it through.

This six-part podcast guides listeners through six essential female stories related to the Olympics. From breakthrough Paralympian Lis Hartel to lawyer and rower Anita Defrantz, all of these stories have one thing in common: standing up for what’s right and pushing women’s issues forward, on and off the field. With narration from barrier-breaking fencer Ibtihaj Muhammad, this series draws back the curtain on stories that deserve more attention from not only the sporting community but society at large. These intrepid women not only dominated their lanes, but blazed a trail for athletes of all kinds.