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Books > Language & Literature > Biography & autobiography > Sport
The inspirational and powerful memoir from double world heptathlon
champion and Team GB Olympian Katarina Johnson-Thompson.
Katarina Johnson-Thompson has never had it easy. Born a child of two
worlds - her mum’s working-class Liverpool, and her dad’s idyllic
Bahamas - she was never supposed to be a world champion. Her early
childhood wasn’t easy. She was raised by a single mother, and at times
it was a struggle for her to keep up with other athletes who had more
funding around them. But she persevered.
Now, in her intimate, heartfelt autobiography, she tells her story as
she never has before. She opens up about the pressures of representing
Britain at the London Olympics while just sixteen years of age, and
about her complex relationship with mentor-turned-rival Jessica
Ennis-Hill. Unbroken is a rare insight into the inner workings of a
champion's mind: the rigorous discipline, the undying passion for
sport, and the unshakable belief in one's self despite the odds.
Johnson-Thompson’s journey has been a remarkable one. Her upbringing
and her career, both rich with challenges overcome and dreams pursued
with relentless determination, serve as a powerful reminder that the
human spirit is capable of extraordinary feats. But this is more than a
story of triumph-against-the-odds. It’s a testament to the sweat, tears
and laughter that pave the road to success, and to the unyielding
spirit of a true champion.
'The greater the challenge, the sweeter the reward, but also the
greater the risk of failure. And fear of failure is the greatest
barrier to success.' Sabrina Verjee is an ultrarunning phenomenon.
In June 2021, on her fourth attempt, she became the first person to
climb the Lake District's 214 Wainwright hills in under six days,
running 325 miles with a colossal 36,000 metres of ascent. Where
There's a Hill tells the story of an outsider who was never picked
for a school sports team yet went on to become an accomplished
modern pentathlete and adventure racer. After switching her focus
to ultrarunning in her thirties, Sabrina moved to the Lake
District, where she could hone her mountain-running skills on the
local fells. High-profile success in endurance events followed, as
she completed the Dragon's Back Race three times and was the
outright winner of the 2019 Summer Spine Race, beating her nearest
competitor by more than eight hours. However, it was the
Wainwrights Round which really captured Sabrina's imagination.
Having learnt about the challenge from fell-running legend Steve
Birkinshaw, Sabrina began to plan an attempt of her own. Despite
multiple obstacles - including lockdown regulations, bad weather,
injury and controversy - Sabrina's grit and determination shone
through. Where There's a Hill is a frank and inspirational account
of how one woman ran her way into the record books.
It is so statistically unlikely as to be almost unbelievable.
Somehow, the Gronkowski family has produced three sons who play in
the NFL (Rob, Chris, and Dan), one who was drafted into Major
League Baseball (Gordie, Jr.), and another who is the starting
fullback for Kansas State (Goose). Their father, Gordy, even played
college football for Syracuse.
How did it happen? From an early age, Gordy realized the
potential his sons had and worked with them to make the most of it.
Beyond their monstrous size, physicality, and raw talent, he
instilled in them a commitment to fitness, health, drive, and
determination that would give his boys a leg up in ways other
families simply couldn't match. And the boys' motivation certainly
wasn't something solely triggered by a driven father. They were
like a pack of adolescent wolves readying themselves for the
recruiting hunt. Still, all were honor roll students; the three
oldest earned college degrees. Each was motivated and inspired by
his brothers. Competition and bragging rights were -- and continue
to be -- a big part of what makes the Gronkowskis tick. "Growing Up
Gronk "reveals the secrets to the Gronkowski's astonishing
collective success while opening the door to a lively,
entertaining, one-of-a-kind household.
Red Sox MVP Pedroia tells this feel-good story about his love of
baseball, overcoming the naysayers, and winning a World Series in
his first season.
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Alex
(Hardcover)
David Lyons
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As a follow-up to his hugely popular 2016 autobiography Trail Blazer,
Ryan Sandes’ new book explores the gripping and often life-threatening
adventures this extraordinary ultra-trail runner has experienced around
the globe since then. Not only have these projects tested the very edge
of human endurance, but on several occasions, Ryan literally had to run
for his life.
Along with a 1 500-kilometre Himalayan adventure, read about his
attempt at completing the first 700-kilometre solo run up Namibia’s
legendary Skeleton Coast – only to stumble upon some very angry
Namibian soldiers conducting illegal and, possibly,
government-sponsored seal clubbing. And, with his running partner Ryno
Griessel, becoming the first people to run the entire circumference of
Lesotho, during which they find themselves fighting off an attack from
local herdsman armed with rocks and clubs.
In between these adventures, Ryan battles to balance a challenging
career with a dedicated commitment to his young family. Risk. Run.
Reward. is packed with adventure, humour and some fascinating insights
into the psyche of an ultra-endurance athlete. Trust me, these people
are not like you and me …
Brilliant, honest, combative – Eddie Jones is a gigantic yet enigmatic figure in world rugby and a true legend of the game. In My Life And Rugby he tells his story for the first time, including the full inside story of England’s 2019 World Cup campaign.
Eddie Jones is one of the most experienced and decorated coaches in world rugby. He career has spanned four World Cups; from losing to England in the 100th minute in 2003, working with South Africa when they won in 2007, and causing the greatest upset in 2015 when he masterminded the Japanese defeat of South Africa.
Since taking over as head coach of England in 2015 Eddie Jones has masterminded a complete revival of the national team. He has won the Six Nations Championship back-to-back, including England’s first grand slam in a generation, their first ever whitewash of Australia, as well as taking them on their longest ever winning streak.
In his explosive autobiography Jones shows how his fiercely competitive attitude, his love of coaching and his philosophy of the game were formed while growing up in a tough working-class suburb of Sydney as a small half-Japanese kid, playing schoolboy rugby alongside the legendary Ella brothers.
Learning from the extreme highs and lows of his own playing career – the numerous successes playing for Randwick and New South Wales but also the painful disappointment of never playing for Australia – he shows what it takes to be the best in the world and how everything he has learnt about the game on and off the pitch has gone into plotting England’s route to the top of World Rugby.
My Life And Rugby is the story of one of the most compelling and singular figures in rugby, told with unflinching honesty this is the ultimate rugby book for all fans of the sport.
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