"Lord, I don't ask that I should win, but please, please don't let me finish behind Akabusi."
Courage to soar
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Simone Biles, Zondervan, 2016. ISBN978-0310-75966
The book is the autobiography of arguably the greatest woman gymnast ever. Written in 2016, it therefore does not deal with the mental struggles which she had during the 2021 Olympics. The book gives great insight into the challenges of elite gymnastics where athletes peak as teenagers and have to learn to deal with triumphs and disasters at a time when their emotional development maybe at an early stage. There is a very poignant account of Simone's failure to make a US team aged 14. So young to deal with that kind of experience.
Her strong (Catholic) faith is a running theme in the book, With the importance of faith being referred to as a normal part of family life. Similarly prayer who is very much part of the family’s routine. Prayer and faith certainly seemed part of Simone’s sporting life as well. Decisions like whether to go to secondary school or be home schooled in terms of how it affected gymnastics training were bathed in prayer.
Growing up in a difficult family situation she and her sister were adopted by their grandparents, whom she called “mom and dad”. Their commitment to her gymnastics was crucial.
An easy read, a competing story and a story of faith.