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Introduction

Throughout history, those who practice the art of the human body have inspired us with superhuman feats. Pushing themselves past their limits, they have climbed the highest mountains (Hillary), swum the most dangerous oceans (Ederle), surfed the biggest waves (Kahanamoku), and broken the toughest barriers (Robinson). In striving for physical perfection, athletes have caused riots, earned enormous sums of money, and influenced entire generations. But what were they like as people? Were their actions in private always so sportsmanlike? And were they as popular with their neighbors as with their fans?

The life of an athlete is surely intense—some have even perished while playing their sport (Maravich, Hyman). Athletes have been snubbed by world leaders (Owens) and congratulated by one out of every ten of their countrymen (Clemente). They have imperiled themselves by chasing thieves down alleys (Henie) and roared at the most inappropriate times (Weissmuller).

Neighbors can make an athlete's life even more intense. Some neighbors have been tough enough to make martial arts a requirement for survival (Lee) or intrusive enough to dictate protective measures (Pelé). Neighbors have gotten together to help Olympic-bound competitors (Rudolph) and have cherished an athlete’s almost saintly presence (Ashe). On the other hand, wild parties can be annoying to neighboring farmers (Ruth), and some neighbors do regret the sacrifice of their entire marble collections (Zaharias). Steak has with unusual frequency been the breakfast of champions, though at least one champion has been famous among neighbors for stews of fresh fish or raccoon (Thorpe).

Whatever their appetites, or whoever their neighbors, the athletic stars who excite us today sometimes exceed the records of their predecessors. But this has not decreased our fascination with legendary role models and their exploits. Here are twenty true stories of athletes—mostly admirable, occasionally quirky—offered as a celebration of physical accomplishment that transports us into a world of thrills and spills.

--Kathleen Krull

Text copyright © by Kathleen Krull.  Published by Harcourt, Inc. and reproduced with permission.  All rights reserved.

All “Lives of” artwork copyright © by Kathryn Hewitt.  Published by Harcourt, Inc. and reproduced with permission.  All rights reserved.

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