Full Description
This book profiles 24 athletes who overcame seemingly insurmountable medical odds to attain athletic success. Each profile describes the athlete's problem, the medical issues he or she faced, how success was achieved despite the setback, and the personal qualities that helped the athlete to prevail.
Part I features 15 athletes who dealt with diseases and physical disabilities, including Babe Didrikson Zaharias (cancer), Ron Santo (diabetes), Gail Devers (Graves' disease), Alonzo Mourning (kidney disease), Wilma Rudolph (polio), Scott Hamilton (a pancreatic disorder in childhood) and Jimmy Abbott (born with one hand).
Part II highlights nine athletes who dealt with near-fatal or life-changing accidents and injuries, including Bill Toomey, Three-Finger Brown, Greg LeMond, Lou Brissie and Tommy John.
Contents
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments
Preface
Part I. Diseases and Physical Disabilities
Cancer
Jeff Blatnick
Jon Lester
Babe Didrikson Zaharias
Diabetes
Gary Hall Jr.
Ron Santo
Other Debilitating Diseases
Gail Devers
Alice Marble
Alonzo Mourning
Wilma Rudolph
Childhood Illnesses
Scott Hamilton
Bobby Jones
Doris Hart
Physical Disabilities
Jim Abbott
Dummy Hoy
Harry Greb
Part II. Accidents and Injuries
Accidents
Glenn Cunningham
Bill Toomey
Three-Finger Brown
Mike Burton
Ben Hogan
Greg LeMond
Injuries
Lou Brissie
Rocky Bleier
Tommy John
Conclusion: Qualities of Those Who Triumphed Over Adversity
Notes
Bibliography
Index
