Olympic Medalists Who Became Children's Book Authors
Article Written by Meagan Shelley with Artwork by Lau Moraiti
The Olympics is an exciting time for many. Whether it's dressing up dogs in US women's soccer jerseys or staying up through the wee hours of the morning to catch your favorite event. After 12 months of uncertainty around if there would be an Olympics this year (and what it might look like), thousands of the world's best athletes have been reunited in a quest to break records, reach new times, and exceed personal expectations.
It’s easy to pigeonhole Olympic athletes as ‘contestants’ or ‘sportspeople,’ especially after years competing in the field. However, many past medalists have proven themselves to be incredibly moving children’s book authors as well.
Here are some examples of Olympic Medalists who chose to create children’s books after reaching the pinnacle of their athletic careers.
Ibtihaj Muhammad
Ibtihaj Muhammad was the first female muslim fencer to represent the United States in 2016. After winning a bronze in her fencing bracket, she became the first African-American Muslim woman to win an Olympic medal.
Muhammad’s struggle to reach the top did not come without a fight, and she realized her experiences might be useful to other young people around the world. This prompted her to write The Proudest Blue, (Brown Books for Young Readers, 2019). It was an instant hit on the NYT Bestseller list, and was referred to as "A lovely blend of emotional lyricism and closely observed everyday life” by Publishers’ Weekly.
“When I was a kid, I did not see myself represented in children's literature,” she said in an interview. “The Proudest Blue is a critical step in bringing representation to the pages of picture books. I wanted to tell this story so that children of colour and those who wear hijab could see themselves in the characters and in a story that shares their experience.”
The Proudest Blue is a story about a young girl’s experience wearing hijab at school. Coupled with lyrical verse, it takes a heartfelt look at faith, family, and bravery.
Mary Wineberg
Training for years in her field, Mary Wineberg became a Gold Medalist in the Summer Olympics of 2008. She won the 400 meter relay race for the United States and was the first female African American to win gold from the University of Cincinnati.
Wineberg received a Bachelor's degree in education in 2002 before competing in the Olympics. She taught second grade for over six years before moving into track competitions. But her desire to help young students remained. Teaching children the benefits of losing and resilience in the face of resistance was the spark that created I Didn’t Win (R. R. Bowker, 2020).
I Didn’t Win is a story about a boy named Jackson who did not win his race and explores topics of determination, self-efficacy, and hard work.
Kristi Yamaguchi
Kristi Yamaguchi is a decorated figure skater. As a Gold Medalist in the 1992 Olympics and the winner of the 2008 "Dancing with the Stars" competition, Yamaguchi has proven her skill on many levels. She was the first Asian-American woman to score a gold medal at a Winter Olympic game.
Dream Big, Little Pig! and It’s a Big World, Little Pig! are Yamaguchi’s two children’s picture books. Her latest book (It’s a Big World, Little Pig!) (Sourcebooks Jabberwocky, 2012) was listed on the New York Times Bestseller list for several months. Kirkus, a widely renowned book reviewer, referred to her latest piece as “Another sweet confection.” Yamaguchi was Born with clubfoot, and hopes to inspire children to pursue their dreams in the face of adversity.
Of all the mediums these decorated athletes can and have entered, the fact that they wanted to create picture books for young readers is deeply inspiring. Even as adults, there is something to be learned from the pages of these inspiring works.
Follow us to diversify your kidlit bookshelf and get a peek behind the curtain to learn how the publishing industry really works.