5 Picture Books on the Best Female Olympians

How much do I love the Olympics? Let me count the reasons...

Well, at least five of them, in the form of picture books. I've tried to explain my love for the Olympics before, but usually, it just comes out in a jumble of sounds, a few tears, and me dissolving into a puddle of mushy muscles and happy sighs.

The Olympics is a spiritual experience for me, and I have not one athletic bone in my body.

Nevertheless, in honor of the Paris 2024 Olympics that start in 24 days (squeal!) here are five picture books on some of the most amazing female Olympians in history.

1. The Mermaid with No Tail by Jessica Long

What could be better than a mermaid? An OLYMPIC mermaid?! Oh my gosh, deep breaths Maren, deep breaths!

This isn’t a biographical picture book like the others. I mean, Jessica Long is a human from Siberia, not a mermaid from the ocean. But Jessica did base The Mermaid with No Tail on her adoption and Olympic training experience. Tatiana is a mermaid with no tail fins, adopted by Mom and Dad sea turtles who tell her it’s her differences that are her greatest gifts. Tatiana loves watching the Mermaid Games, and with the help of her shark coach Phelpsy, she knows she’ll compete in them one day too.

Jessica was born without most of the bones in her legs and feet, so they were amputated below the knee so she could be fitted for prosthetic legs. She was adopted by her parents from a Russian orphanage and learned to swim in her grandpa’s swimming pool where, of course, she pretended to be a mermaid. Jessica trained with Michael Phelps in Baltimore and has won 29 medals at the Paralympic Games.

If you love mermaids, you’ll love Jessica Long!

2. Long-Armed Ludy by Jean L. S. Patrick

The 1900 Paris Olympics was the first to allow women to compete, but they were extremely limited in which events they could participate in. Unless you were a sailor, a golfer, a tennis player, or a croquet player, you were out of luck.

It’s like the men didn’t have eyes. Women participated in all the other sports, they just had to do it their own way.

Paris. She just keeps poppin’ up in my picture book research.

Alice Milliat of France finally got fed up with the discrimination and started her own international track meet. And that’s where Lucile “Ludy” Godbold became the first champion of the Women’s Olympics in Paris, France.

Ludy was gangly. Six feet tall and strong arms that hung close to the ground, a college coach encouraged her to take the shot pot “for a ride”.

And what a ride Ludy took.

3. The Story of Simone Biles by Rachelle Burk

My first daughter shall be named Simone. Or maybe that would reveal just how obsessed I am with Simone Biles? Ever since 2016, I haven’t been able to get enough of her. I mean, did you see her floor routine? I haven’t seen joy like that since Gene Kelly danced. 

The Story of Simone Biles is like a junior version of her biography. A lot of the same stories and facts are in the adult version, so it’s a great place to start if you only have a few minutes. This is also just a little more advanced than a picture book. But when an athlete is jumping 12 ft in her floor programs, there is just no way to condense her awesomeness into 12 pages.

The best part about Simone’s story is that it’s really just life. So lifey. What paths should she choose? What things will she have to give up? How do you get along with family members? 

I can’t wait for an updated biography after the 2024 Olympics!!!

4. Unbeatable Betty by Allison Crotzer Kimmel

The 1936 Olympics was explosive, and not because it was the last one before WWII. The 1936 Olympics has been on everyone’s minds lately with the release of The Boys in the Boat. And before that it was known for the gold medal won by Jesse Owens, effectively rubbing it in Hitler’s face that the Arian race was not superior.

But have you heard of Unbeatable Betty?

The first woman to compete in the modern Olympic games was at the 1900 Paris Olympic Games (how appropriate for this year 😊). But only 22 competed. That’s 2.2% of the athletes. So while it was “allowed” for women to compete, it wasn’t exactly encouraged. Quite honestly, Betty wasn’t even focused on running until the boy’s track coach at her high school saw her running to catch a train.

But just when you think Betty is on her way, she nearly dies in a plane crash. 

Betty Robinson was the first woman in the world to win Olympic gold, and she’s still the youngest 100-meter champion in Olympic history. Do you think this Paris Olympics will mirror hers?

5. Wilma Unlimited by Kathleen Krull

Wilma Rudolph started this world in tough conditions. Not only was it 1940 in the United States, but she was a little too early. She was just over four pounds at birth, and most people didn’t think she’d live. But most people don’t have a family like Wilma’s. She may have cheated death, but death did its best to get revenge. Wilma seemed to catch everything, and always doubly bad. Finally, a simultaneous bout of scarlet fever and polio twisted her left leg in. No more walking for Wilma.

Wilma knew the power of consistent practice far before she ever trained for an Olympics. She massaged her leg and followed the instructions the hospital showed her for her muscles, and one day she took off her heavy steel brace and walked down the aisles of church pews. After that, nothing was going to hold Wilma back.

Wilma Rudolph won three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics, some by a clear margin and one by a whisker. And while she may have retired after the Olympics, she still lived her life at the speed of light. As the author writes, “the sickliest child in Clarksville… had become the fastest woman in the world.”

The next Olympic trials are starting. Don't expect me to answer any messages for at least four hours!

*All links are simply links, I don't get any money if you click them. I just want to make finding great stories as easy as possible for you!*

Similar Reads:

10 Historical Fiction Books NOT Set in WWII

Picture Perfect: 5 Picture Books that Capture History

6 Middle-Grade Books About The Olympics

Want to work with me? Schedule a free editing consultation with Maren! You're bound to leave with a novel idea...

Like what you're reading? Follow me on Goodreads!