Hands up if loved watching the Tokyo Olympics? *Throws both hands up like she’s just landed from the vault* I couldn’t get enough of it and welcomed the distraction from the daily news in Australia about Covid outbreaks and lockdowns.
It’s impossible to pick which moments were the best, from the Aussie swimmers slaying in the pool to watching Jess Fox clinching gold. For me, however, it wasn’t just about the medals, it was learning about the stories behind the athletes’ successes. I loved the interviews with the parents and partners of the athletes — seeing the pride in their faces and hearing the joy in their voices. Then there were incredible backstories about athletes recovering from surgeries, dealing with grief, fighting shame from past performances, and pushing themselves to be the best for another year after the Tokyo games were delayed… all of it was so extraordinary and yes, inspiring.
If you’re like me you probably have an appetite for more stories like that. So, here is a handy round-up of some great sporting books that share all the guts and glory of the professional sporting life.