Access Top-Rated Free Audiobooks in Biography & Memoir, Sports

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/645504 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Naomi Osaka: Her Journey to Finding Her Power and Her Voice Author: Ben Rothenberg Narrator: Ben Rothenberg, Stacey Glemboski Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 17 hours 28 minutes Release date: January 9, 2024 Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: A deeply reported, revealing biography of tennis phenomenon and activist Naomi Osaka, telling the untold story behind her Grand Slam-winning career, her headline-making advocacy for racial justice and mental health, and the challenges of a life in the international spotlight. Naomi Osaka is everywhere, but how did she get there? Most tennis fans were introduced to Naomi Osaka as they watched her win the 2018 US Open final in an unforgettably controversial and dramatic victory over her idol, Serena Williams. Her extraordinary talent propelled her to the top of her sport and onto the front page of newspapers and magazines worldwide, but it was her unique blend of awe-striking power and disarming vulnerability that fascinated millions as she became a champion like none before her. Osaka has captivated the tennis world-- and gained attention across the culture-- not only by winning three more Grand Slams but by finding her voice on a range of topics that have made her a touchstone far beyond sports, positioned at the crossroads of myriad social issues. Even as she became the highest-paid female athlete in history and one of the most discussed of the past decade, until now, the story of the Haitian-Japanese-American Osaka family’s journey across the world to follow their tennis dreams has remained little known. It is a story unlike any other, and Ben Rothenberg’s biography not only shows where Osaka came from but also where she's going as she returns to competitive tennis after a year on maternity leave. Through a riveting exploration of the ways Osaka has changed the game on and off the court, Rothenberg details the incredible impact Osaka has had in the arenas of sports, media, business, social justice, and mental health.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/610726 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Killing the Image: A Champion’s Journey of Faith, Fighting, and Forgiveness Author: Andre Ward Narrator: Andre Ward Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 7 hours 24 minutes Release date: November 14, 2023 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 3 Ratings of Narrator: 5 of Total 1 Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: Read by the author. In this inspiring memoir, undefeated five-time world champion boxer Andre Ward--aka 'Son of God'--shares the gripping narrative of his unforgettable career, his rock-solid faith, and why boxing was never the biggest fight of his life. Andre Ward was the undefeated light heavyweight boxing champion of the world when he walked away from the ring and did not look back. Now that he has taken off his gloves for the final time, the Olympic gold medalist is ready to share the heartbreaking and uplifting stories of his formative years and unprecedented boxing career. Motivational, faith-building, and utterly compelling, this memoir offers - an inspiring story of overcoming a broken childhood - behind-the-scenes drama from Andre's epic championship bouts, complicated relationships with managers and promoters, and shocking decision to retire at the top of his game - insight into breaking destructive generational bonds, forgiving those who have hurt us, and moving toward hope - a challenge to live out our faith without compromise   Rich with colorful characters, fascinating detail, and biblical truths, this is the story of a man known for his integrity outside the ring, his warrior's instinct inside it, and his unrelenting bond with the God who called him to the greatest victory of all.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/659133 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Kammy: The Funny and Moving Autobiography by the Broadcasting Legend Author: Chris Kamara Narrator: Chris Kamara, Tony Marshall Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 9 hours 58 minutes Release date: November 9, 2023 Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: This audiobook includes a moving introduction read by Kammy himself, as well as an exclusive Q&A between him and narrator Tony Marshall. 'What a man, what a life, what a story, and what a great read' – Paddy McGuinness With his trademark banter and unflinching honesty, Kammy sees Chris 'Kammy' Kamara tell the unbelievable stories of his life, revealing how he went from hard-tackling footballer to broadcasting national treasure. Presenter, commentator, (sometimes masked) singer, footballer, manager and campaigner, Kammy's action-packed career has made him a bona fide British hero. But it hasn't always been plain sailing. Kammy had a tough upbringing, faced racism on the terraces during his playing career and has, in recent years, dealt with a rare brain condition – apraxia – that has affected his speech and seen him say goodbye to Sky Sports. Despite this, Kammy’s star has only risen as he’s met every challenge with courage, determination and his infectious smile. With entertaining stories of his playing career from Pompey to Leeds and beyond; his management at Bradford City and Stoke; his crazy travels around the world; of Soccer Saturday banter; presenting Ninja Warrior; and the incredible friendships he's made along the way, Kammy is an unforgettable ride from one of Britain's best-loved broadcasters. 'A talented (and daft) lad from the Boro who has entertained the nation for decades, on and off the pitch. So get the tissues ready – this book will make you laugh and cry in equal measure' – Steph McGovern

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/567216 to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Race To Be Myself Author: Caster Semenya Narrator: Becky Motumo, Caster Semenya Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 11 hours 32 minutes Release date: October 31, 2023 Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: Brought to you by Penguin. Woman. Athlete. Daughter. Sister. Wife. Mother. The Race To Be Myself is an intimate exploration of Caster Semenya's many identities, told for the first time by Caster herself. In her own words, Caster takes the reader through key moments that defined her story, sharing her journey from childhood, through to her teenage years and adulthood. In the book, Caster will detail what went on behind the scenes when she found international fame, how it felt to have her body dissected for the whole world to see. Caster will explore how the politics of race, gender, and sexuality play out at the highest levels of competitive sports and why she is determined to continue the fight for her and others right to run free. The Race To Be Myself is an inspirational book about personal freedom and self-love, and how important it is to have the strength and courage to pursue your dream - no matter what it is put in your way. ©2023 Caster Semenya (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/587689 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Mind Over Matter: Hard-Won Battles on the Road to Hope Author: Jordin Tootoo, Stephen Brunt Narrator: Jordin Tootoo Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 5 hours 38 minutes Release date: October 17, 2023 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 1 Ratings of Narrator: 5 of Total 1 Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: Following the bestselling success of the inspiring All the Way, pioneering Inuit NHLer Jordin Tootoo begins the process of healing in the wake of the suicide and violence that marks his family, only to discover the source of all that trauma in his father's secret past. For some hockey players, retirement marks the moment when it’s all over. But Jordin Tootoo is not most hockey players. Having inspired millions when he first broke into the league, Tootoo continued to influence people throughout his career—not only through his very public triumph over alcoholism, but also his natural charisma. And now, years after hanging up his skates, he is more committed to doing things the right way and speaking about it to others, whether it’s corporate executives or Indigenous youth. But the news of unmarked graves on the grounds of residential schools brought back to life many of the demons that had haunted his family. In a moment of realization that left him rattled and saddened, Tootoo fit the pieces together. The years that were never spoken of. The heavy drinking. The all too predictable violence. His father was a survivor, marked by what he had survived. As he travels back to Nunavut to try to speak with his father about what haunts him, he encounters the ghosts of the entire community. Still, as Tootoo says, we are continuously learning and rewriting our story at every step. He has learned from his mistakes and his victories. He has learned from examples of great courage and humility. He has learned from being a father and a husband. And he has learned from his own Inuk traditions, of perseverance and discipline in the face of hardship. Weaving together life’s biggest themes with observations and experiences, Jordin shares the kind of wisdom he has had to specialize in—the hard-won kind.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/657065 to listen full audiobooks. Title: The Awesome Game: One Man's Incredible, Globe-Crushing Hockey Odyssey Author: Dave Hill Narrator: Dave Hill Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 6 hours 37 minutes Release date: October 17, 2023 Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: One man's search to answer the ultimate question in sports: Why is hockey so incredibly awesome? DAVE HILL—author, actor, rock musician and stand-up comedian—is an outstanding American. One thing that makes him stand out is that he's part Canadian—an advantage he explored in his previous book, Parking the Moose. Another is that he's obsessed with hockey. That makes him one of only five percent of Americans who've declared they like hockey more than any other sport. Unbelievable but true. In The Awesome Game, Dave tackles this mind-blowing conundrum with full force, drilling down into what makes hockey so vitally important in so many parts of the world, despite the average American not recognizing its preeminent greatness. His search for the very soul of hockey takes him across the globe, from Canada (of course) to Poland, Kenya, even New York, to observe on-ice action, mingle with fans and interrogate some of the sport's greatest players and pundits. The Awesome Game is bursting with passion, expert in its analysis and as deeply entertaining as the game itself (but funnier).

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/650881 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Unforgiving: Lessons from the Fall Author: Lindsey Jacobellis Narrator: Abby Craden Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 8 hours 1 minute Release date: October 17, 2023 Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: In this deeply personal memoir in the vein of Andre Agassi's Open and Megan Rapinoe’s One Life, the winningest snowboardcross rider of all time chronicles her career, a story of self-growth that reveals the secret of her resilience and how she overcame crushing early failure to win Olympic gold. On February 16, 2006, twenty-year old American snowboarder Lindsey Jacobellis was poised to win the first gold medal in women’s snowboardcross, a sport making its Olympic debut. With a seemingly insurmountable lead over the other competitors, Lindsey only needed a clean run for the gold medal to be hers. But as the five-time world champion entered the last 100 meters the unthinkable happened: choosing to add a little flair to the run, she grabbed the back edge of her board—then lost her balance and fell. It was a mistake that would go down as one of the biggest “unforced errors” in all of sports history.  For the next sixteen years, Jacobellis endured the criticism and second-guessing of Olympic commentators, sportswriters, and detractors. Day after day she persevered and trained harder on the snow and with her life coach, learning the power of resilience and what the sport really meant to her. The fierce competitor discovered that life, though it may not seem like it, does happen in just the right way: you end up precisely where you were meant to be. At the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, Lindsey twice reached the top of the podium, becoming a two-time Olympic gold medalist.   Unforgiving recounts Lindsey’s journey from disappointment to triumph. It is an honest account of one life-altering misstep and its aftermath, and a reflection on what it means to come of age as an athlete in the spotlight, the weight of expectations, falling short, and ultimately fulfilling your dreams. Unforgiving is about the purpose-driven, forward-looking attitude Lindsey took on after her fall, when looking back wouldn’t have done anyone any favors. It’s about the pass she refused to grant herself until she’d earned it. Unforgiving is about the commitment to seek her own truth—and to speak up on one’s own behalf after letting others do it for years.   Forgiveness, in the end, is at the heart of Lindsey’s story, but underneath and alongside is its polar opposite—an unending, uncompromising determination to push herself, to prove herself, to power past every obstacle in her path, even those of her own making.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/655908 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Life in Two Worlds: A Coach's Journey from the Reserve to the NHL and Back Author: Ted Nolan Narrator: James Malloch Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 11 hours 37 minutes Release date: October 17, 2023 Ratings: Ratings of Book: 5 of Total 2 Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: #1 BESTSELLER In 1997 Ted Nolan won the Jack Adams Award for best coach in the NHL. But he wouldn’t work in pro hockey again for almost a decade. What happened? Growing up on a First Nation reserve, young Ted Nolan built his own backyard hockey rink and wore skates many sizes too big. But poverty wasn’t his biggest challenge. Playing the game meant spending his life in two worlds: one in which he was loved and accepted and one where he was often told he didn’t belong. Ted proved he had what it took, joining the Detroit Red Wings in 1978. But when his on-ice career ended, he discovered his true passion wasn’t playing; it was coaching. First with the Soo Greyhounds and then with the Buffalo Sabres, Ted produced astonishing results. After his initial year as head coach with the Sabres, the club was being called the “hardest working team in professional sports.” By his second, they had won their first Northeast Division title in sixteen years. Yet, the Sabres failed to re-sign their much-loved, award-winning coach. Life in Two Worlds chronicles those controversial years in Buffalo—and recounts how being shut out from the NHL left Ted frustrated, angry, and so vulnerable he almost destroyed his own life. It also tells of Ted’s inspiring recovery and his eventual return to a job he loved. But Life in Two Worlds is more than a story of succeeding against the odds. It’s an exploration of how a beloved sport can harbour subtle but devastating racism, of how a person can find purpose when opportunity and choice are stripped away, and of how focusing on what really matters can bring two worlds together.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/650884 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Coach Prime: Deion Sanders and the Making of Men Author: Jean-Jacques Taylor Narrator: Korey Jackson Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 9 hours 24 minutes Release date: October 10, 2023 Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: An exclusive insider account with unprecedented access to Deion Sanders, his staff, and players, who are changing the culture of college football. ''A highly readable portrait of one of the most exciting coaches in college football.'' – San Deigo Union-Tribune ''You won't find a more competitive person than Coach Prime. At Jackson State, he wanted to dominate and win.... Nothing has changed but the address. He wants to dominate and win a national championship at Colorado.'' (from Coach Prime) Known for decades as one of the NFL’s most iconic and spectacular playmakers, Deion Sanders remains college football's most intriguing newsmaker. In just three years, he has become the most talked about coach by recruiting elite players to moribund programs and reviving the spirit and pride of forgotten fanbases by winning. Along the way, he’s changing how we think about college sports while rejuvenating whole communities with the national attention that follows him and the fresh commerce a winning culture ignites. First at Jackson State and now at Colorado, Sanders has displayed a knack for leading miraculous turnarounds of once-storied-but-long-irrelevant programs. Television cameras turn up for national broadcasts, gameday attendance skyrockets, economic impact reaches the tens of millions, and NFL scouts take renewed interest. Meanwhile, off the field, Sanders displays an uncanny ability to connect with his players. Weekly chat sessions about life and love are the norm. His unyielding commitment to guiding his players to become exceptional men raises the bar on what parents and athletes expect from college coaches. Now, with access no other reporter has been granted, veteran sports journalist Jean-Jacques Taylor takes readers inside one season with Deion Sanders to show the heart, mind, and culture of America's most innovative football coach and his team of would-be champions.

Please visit https://thebookvoice.com/podcasts/1/audiobook/655575 to listen full audiobooks. Title: Take the Lead: Hanging On, Letting Go, and Conquering Life's Hardest Climbs Author: Sasha Digiulian Narrator: Sasha Digiulian Format: Unabridged Audiobook Length: 8 hours 56 minutes Release date: September 26, 2023 Genres: Sports Publisher's Summary: This program is read by the author. World champion climber Sasha DiGiulian tells her story—from coming of age under the scrutiny of social media, navigating a male-dominated sport, and tackling her most heart-stopping climbs—and shares the power of perseverance and positivity. At age six, Sasha DiGiulian stepped into a climbing gym for the first time and was competing within a year. Decked out in all-pink gear and with her blonde hair tied into pigtails, Sasha knew from an early age what it was like to be a girl in a traditionally male-dominated sport, vowing to never sacrifice her femininity to fit in. With a fierce love for the climb and incredible natural talent, Sasha soon won her first National Sport Climbing Championship at only seventeen, and a year later took the title of World Champion. To her fans, it looked like Sasha was on top of the world. But under the accolades, she was just another young woman learning how to handle the intense scrutiny of social media and dealing with body dysmorphia, all while quietly facing a potentially career-ending injury. In a relatable and inspiring voice, Take the Lead reflects on the highs and lows of Sasha’s illustrious life and career for the first time, bringing listeners on her remarkable journey from novice climber to Columbia University graduate, adventurer, environmentalist, and entrepreneur, and one of the most recognizable faces in climbing. For listeners of Cheryl Strayed’s Wild and Megan Rapinoe’s One Life, Take the Lead ultimately emphasizes the power of perseverance, fearlessness and positivity in tackling some of the most daunting and fearsome climbs—on and off the wall. A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.