Greenberg, Doreen & Greenberg, Michael. Fast lane to victory; the story of Jenny Thompson - Book Review

Kliatt, Nov, 2002 by Jennifer Baldwin

(Anything You Can Do ... New Sports Heroes for Girls series, Vol. 3). Wish Publishing (P.O. Box 10337, Terre Haute, IN 47801; www.wishpublishing.com). 142p. illus. c2001. 1-9300546-38-6. $9.95. JS

Fast Lane to Victory is the third biography in this series on sports heroes for girls. This volume includes a foreword by U.S. soccer star Julie Foudy and Olympic gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee, both of whom express a need for more role models for young female athletes. Readers learn about Olympic swimming star Jenny Thompson's career from the time she was seven months old and swimming in a circle between her three older brothers and her single-parent mother at the local pool. Jenny later struggled as she had to wear a brace to combat scoliosis and as her friends made fun of her for the amount of time she spent in the pool. The authors include Jenny's career highlights, which include moving from her New England home to Stanford University, appearances at the Olympics in 1992 in Barcelona, in 1996 in Atlanta, and in 2000 in Sydney, and many shattered swimming records. Black and white sketches help the reader visualize the important events of Jenny's swimming career.

This biography also includes highlights from other great female swimmers at the beginning of each chapter, as well as the unique "Sports Talk" section at the end of the book, which is a great resource for parents, coaches, and teachers. Doreen Greenberg utilizes her background in women's sports psychology to ensure this book is a winner for young sports fans and athletes. Jennifer Baldwin, Middle School Teacher, Stella, MO