6 Middle-Grade Books About The Olympics

Much as I love my picture books, I don't mind sinking my teeth into the "bigger" story.

But the "bigger" stories take longer to read. Thankfully, there's an inbetween; middle-grade books still have plenty of pictures for children, but the text is closer to a chapter book. It's a great option for children in 4th and 5th grade.

And adults in a time crunch.

So while we're waiting for me to finish those, here are 6 Middle-Grade books about Olympic Athletes.

1. The Wildest Race Ever by Meghan McCarthy

The 1904 Olympics, held in Saint Louis, Missouri looks nothing like an Olympics in 2024.

First, it was combined with a World Fair. I’m not sure how chaotic that city was with two huge events happening in tandem. On the upside, people ate their first hotdog at the World’s Fair.

But the marathon. What a mess. Heavy rain days before had washed out the route, so the new route was unexpectedly harder. And it was 90 degrees. And training was… less helpful than it is today.

The Wildest Race Ever will blow your mind with some of the craziest stories about some of the athletes. One was chased off by a dog, another kept stopping to practice his English. Trainers refused their runner water, and one gave his runner a concoction with rat poison!

Who won this wild, wild race? You’ll have to read about it to believe it.

2. Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path by Joseph Bruchac

James and Charles Thorpe were born in 1887 on the Sac and Fox Indian Reservation--  what would later become Oklahoma. These twins brought light to their father’s heart, so their mother gave James another name, “Wa-tho-huck”, or “Bright Path”.

Unfortunately, James and Charles grew up during the time the American government forced Native Americans into boarding schools. There they were trained to “fit in” with white society, which meant they essentially needed to forget everything about what made them Indians. Jim lost too much while attending these boarding schools, but the one thing he gained was his exposure to football. On his way to a game, he broke a school high jump record in his overalls and boots. He casually walked away as the mockers withered silently inside. Talk about a mic drop.

Jim Thorpe’s Bright Path showcases all that Jim Thorpe had to pass through before he became the 1912 Olympic Pentathlon and Decathlon winner. But as you’ll find out, even that wasn’t so simple. I’m telling you; you’ve got to read all about Jim Thorpe, the world’s most famous athlete and best known American Indian.

3. A Sporting Chance by Lori Alexander 

I've never watched the second part of the Olympics before, but I will this year.

The Paralympics, which usually starts a week or two after the first games, officially debuted in 1960 in Rome. However, it began decades before that, in a hospital of all places!

Ludwig Guttmann, a Jewish doctor from Germany, had planned on being a pediatrician; WWI changed that plan years before he'd passed his medical exams. One day on his rounds, Ludwig met a teenager around his age being prepped for a full-body cast. This boy had broken his back in the mines and lost all feeling in his legs. When Ludwig inquired what was next for the boy, he was astounded to learn that it was nothing. "Dead in six weeks at the latest." No one knew how to handle paralysis, so they were wheeled to the "incurable" wing of the hospital and left to die.

By the time Ludwig was a doctor, there were too many pediatricians in his area, so he took a position in the neurology department-- brains, nerves, and spines to be specific. Ludwig took the chance and soon he started experimenting together with his patients. Years later, now in London, Ludwig saw a few of his paralyzed patients attempting to play polo in their bulky wheelchairs. And just like that, the Stoke Mandeville Games began.

A Sporting Chance showcases an inspired man who changed the world. And July is Disabilty Pride month, so this book is a great way to commemmorate the Americans with Disabilites Act (ADA).

For Ludwig, the Paralympics was more than just a competition-- it was a way to live.

4. Tenacious by Patty Cisneros Prevo

After you've read about how the Paralympics started-- and to continue celebrating Disability Pride month!--  you'll want to read Tenacious, a book all about 15 athletes with disabilities. Blind skiers and seated surfers are just the beginning of a world that will blow your mind. 

One of my favorite parts of this book is that after the athlete's story the author also included the responses to two questions. Hearing each athlete's "daily challenge" and "daily joy" endears you to them, but it also helps you practice a little bit of empathy; how do people with disabilities do the activities I hardly give a thought to? What things am I taking for granted?

Many of these athletes participated in the Paralympics, but a few participate in sports that haven't qualified as an official Olympic sport. But who knows? New categories get added all the time. Gain a little grit as you read about these tenacious athletes!

5. The Olympics from Athens to Athens by LIFE

If any of you were disappointed that this wasn't another picture book recommendation list, I've got good news-- LIFE made an adult version!

Now, it may be 20 years old, but don't let that stop you. Knowing past Olympians makes the current ones that much cooler. For example, current generations know all about the swimming records Michael Phelps broke, but they've probably never heard about the man who set them. (It's Mark Spitz, just in case you forgot.)

From Athens to Athens has incredible pictures from the first Olympics in 1896 Athens and historic photos from all around the world. It's a great way to get a crash course on all things Olympics, and it might just send you down your most interesting rabbit hole yet.

*I could only find one used copy online, and the picture would probably make you not want to read it. Fingers crossed you can find it in your local library like I did.*

6. Women in Sports by Rachel Ignotofsky

If you liked my previous post, 6 Picture Books About Practically Perfect Women, you will love this book.

Women in Sports gives you a snapshot of 50 of the most incredible women and their athletic careers. Starting in 1881, this book not only showcases individuals but also educates on the disparities that exist between men and women in sports, like pay gaps and media coverage. 

Most of these women competed in the Olympics, but there were a few who dominated their sport in a different ring. And you'll see some familiar names, but there will be more information than a picture book can contain. Rachel Ignotofsky also did her own illustrations. I think you'll enjoy them just as much as the dialogue. 

Happy Reading!

*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:

6 Picture Books About Practically Perfect Women

5 Picture Books on the Best Female Olympians

Picture Perfect: 5 Picture Books that Capture History

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