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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Track & field sports, athletics > General
In June 1972, President Richard Nixon put pen to paper and signed
the Educational Amendments of 1972 into law. The nearly 150-page
document makes no mention of "gender," "athletics," "girls," or
"women." The closest reference to "sport" is transportation. In
fact, the bill did not appear to contain anything earth shattering.
But tucked into its final pages, a heading appears, "Title
IX-Prohibition of Sex Discrimination." These 37 words would change
the world for girls and women across the United States. On its
face, Title IX legally guaranteed equal opportunity in education.
In time, Title IX would serve as the tipping point for the modern
era of women's sport. Slowly but surely, women's athletics at the
high school and collegiate levels grew to prominence, and Tennessee
fast emerged as a national leader. In Title IX, Pat Summitt, and
Tennessee's Trailblazers, Mary Ellen Pethel introduces readers to
past and present pioneers-each instrumental to the success of
women's athletics across the state and nation. Through vibrant
profiles, Pethel celebrates the lives and careers of household
names like Pat Summitt and Candace Parker, as well as equally
important forerunners such as Ann Furrow and Teresa Phillips.
Through their lived experiences, these fifty individuals laid the
foundation for athletic excellence in Tennessee, which in turn
shaped the national landscape for women's sports. The book also
provides readers with a fuller understanding of Title IX, as well
as a concise history of women's athletics in the pre- and
post-Title IX eras. With interviewees ranging from age 20 to 93,
Pethel artfully combines storytelling with scholarship. Guided by
the voices of the athletes, coaches, and administrators, Pethel
vividly documents achievement and adversity, wins and losses, and
advice for the next generation. This book represents the first
statewide compilation of its kind-offering readers a behind-the-
scenes perspective of Tennessee women who dedicated their lives to
the advancement of sport and gender equality. Readers will delight
in Title IX, Pat Summitt, and Tennessee's Trailblazers: 50 Years,
50 Stories.
In 2019, Nick Butter became the first person to run a marathon in every country on Earth. This is Nick's story of his world record-breaking adventure and the extraordinary people who joined him along the way.
On January 6th 2018, Nick Butter tied his laces and stepped out on to an icy pavement in Toronto, where he began to take the first steps of an epic journey that would see him run 196 marathons in every one of the world's 196 countries. Spending almost two years on the road and relying on the kindness of strangers to keep him moving, Nick's odyssey allowed him to travel slowly, on foot, immersing himself in the diverse cultures and customs of his host nations.
Running through capital cities and deserts, around islands and through spectacular landscapes, Nick dodges bullets in Guinea-Bissau, crosses battlefields in Syria, survives a wild dog attack in Tunisia and runs around an erupting volcano in Guatemala. Along the way, he is often joined by local supporters and fellow runners, curious children and bemused passers-by. Telling their stories alongside his own, Nick captures the unique spirit of each place he visits and forges a new relationship with the world around him.
Running the World captures Nick's journey as he sets three world records and covers over five thousand miles. As he recounts his adventures, he shares his unique perspective on our glorious planet, celebrates the diversity of human experience, and reflects on the overwhelming power of running.
OLYMPIAN, WORLD CHAMPION RUNNER AND IRISH SPORTING LEGEND 'Sonia
walked to the start line with the other athletes, her tummy full of
butterflies. She could feel the eyes of the crowd upon them.
Sixty-five thousand people, all here to watch their race. She had
dreamt about this moment for so long, and now it was here.' As a
little girl, playing with her friends in Cobh, Co. Cork, Sonia
O'Sullivan was known as the fastest runner. When she joined a
running club and started to win races, she began to dream of the
Olympic Games. Through her talent, dedication and her ability to
get back up and dust herself down when things went wrong. Sonia
went from an ordinary girl who loved to run to an extraordinary
world class athlete. The story of one of Ireland's greatest ever
athletes -- and a dream made real.
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