Sports Audiobooks

Chanté McCormick rises to the challenge of narrating Jacobs's comprehensive biography of Althea Gibson with grace, energy, and a rich voice. Gibson charted a host of firsts. She was the first Black tennis player to win Wimbledon and the US Open--and to be ranked Number 1 in the world. She was also the first Black player in the Ladies Professional Golf Association. These... Read More

Runner Mirna Valerio reads her memoir with the steady pace and cheerful spirit she brings to her ultra-marathons and 50k races. Her enthusiasm is palpable as she shares her story, which winds from her early days of discovering the joys of being an athlete to dire warnings she received when she was neglecting her health and then to her dedication and triumphs on the trail. She... Read More

When you have an author who writes with enthusiasm about a topic as arcane as competitive rowing and a narrator of the caliber of Edward Herrmann, the result is a fun and compelling work. There’s action and drama, particularly when the story moves to the 1936 Berlin Olympics and the American crew’s unexpected but well-earned gold medal. But it’s in the details of the sport... Read More

Narrator Allyson Ryan has found that magical spot that makes listeners forget they're not listening to a memoir read by its author. In this audiobook, elite cross-country skier Jessie Diggins shares the details of her life--from growing up in rural Minnesota to standing on the podium in Pyeongchang, South Korea, to accept the United States' first ever Olympic Gold Medal in... Read More

Jaime Lincoln Smith skillfully narrates this long overdue biography. Smith's relaxed pacing, rich tone, and understated swagger embody Calvin Peete, one of the best Black golfers in history. This fascinating audiobook takes listeners from Peete's early days as the child of migrant laborers with limited opportunities for education to his incredible success in the PGA despite his... Read More

Ellen Adair handles this biography of Pete Rose beautifully, with clear enunciation and pronunciation, letting the rich and troubled life of baseball's all-time hits leader stand for what it is. Rose was a homegrown Cincinnati guy who went on to star for the Reds. But his off-field pursuits--gambling, an extramarital affair, and a lack of solid friendships--mar his legacy.... Read More

Dave Seminara loves tennis and hero-worships champion Roger Federer. Narrator Paul Heitsch makes sure that we understand these things about Seminara with a performance that adeptly reveals the enthusiasm, humility, and sincerity of the author. After a long struggle with autoimmune disease and an injury, Seminara decides to combine his own return to the court with a trip around... Read More

It used to be frowned upon for women to exercise, sweat, or build muscle--it was thought unbecoming and even dangerous. Danielle Friedman introduces us to a parade of fascinating trailblazers who championed women's running and bodybuilding, created Jazzercise and Barre, and invented the sports bra and leotards. Her writing is exuberant and humorous. Her narration is joyful and... Read More

Michael Jordan’s drive, demons, and pure talent are well documented in this audiobook. The author aptly describes Jordan’s personal and professional lives and analyzes to perfection the very real dichotomy between the affable persona he displayed off the court and the tornado that appeared at practices and games. Narrator Bob Souer uses a staccato rhythm reminiscent of a sports... Read More

Nine months before the enactment of Title IX, Briana Scurry was born. She took full advantage of the law that expanded women's sports. This is an audiobook about resilience and courage; Scurry narrates her story with vulnerability and authenticity. She details her journey through childhood, then a full sports scholarship to college, and on to women's soccer. Her 14 years on the... Read More

Albert Samaha tackles the narration of his audiobook with the heart and soul of the youth football team he writes about, Mo Better Jaguars. He describes the team as a haven in Brownsville, Brooklyn, a sometimes violent, always dangerous place to live. Samaha follows three of the Mo Better players--Oomz, Gio, and Hart. Their talent is their "golden ticket." With it they can go... Read More

L.J. Ganser narrates this wonderful historical look at the rise of baseball in New York City with his usual interested style. You can tell when Ganser is reading a quotation, but he never imposes a campy tone or a vocal imitation. He sounds involved without being overly animated as he delivers the narrative, which starts in the nineteenth century and moves through... Read More

Author/narrator Nathan Chen is the first Asian American to win an Olympic Gold medal in figure skating, which he did at the 2022 Games in Beijing. In a delightful foreword Eunice Wong explains how Vera Wang came to design his costumes. Chen's own delivery is fast and filled with scenes of his childhood and the sacrifices his mother made to secure lessons and coaches for him.... Read More

When you look for chores to do that will allow you to listen to a particular audiobook, you know that title has you hooked. The compelling and charming story of a small-town high school baseball team in 1971 combined with an able and engaging narrator is an unbeatable combination. Mike Chamberlain has an easy tone, and he varies his pitch and pace effectively to match the... Read More

Narrator Katherine Fenton performs this audiobook about the Kibera Girls Soccer Academy, a free secondary school in a Kenyan slum. Her narration is earnest and clear, enthusiastic and sensitive as she helps listeners navigate the details of life in a culture that will be foreign to most. Fenton becomes more expressive when she delivers direct quotes from the students, families,... Read More

Narrator Moniqua Plante's clear voice and steady cadence enhance this fascinating examination of tennis legend Alice Marble. Between 1936 and 1940, Marble won 18 Grand Slam championships--even though she'd gained notoriety as a baseball player as a child. Encouraged to play a "lady's game," Marble became known for her pioneering style in power tennis and later coached Billie... Read More

Olympic medalist Caster Semenya engages listeners with this deeply personal memoir of her experiences amid the ongoing debate over fairness in women's sports. Semenya, who was raised a girl and has always identified as female, has naturally high levels of testosterone, which are known as "differences in sex development (DSD)." She's been forced to undergo invasive and... Read More

Narrator Gina Rogers is outstanding in this engaging listen about the rise of the U.S. Women's National (soccer) Team. The audiobook chronicles the team's evolution since the 1999 World Cup through stories about and interviews with the original trailblazers. Listeners will hear about well-known players like Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy and about players and coaches they may be less... Read More

Hanif Abdurraqib’s latest book is a transcendent feat of poetry, memoir, and—well, magic. His narration is as breathless and beautiful as his prose; this book is epic in every sense of the word. It’s an ode to his hometown of Columbus, Ohio; a love letter to basketball; a meditation on home and belonging; and an exploration of faith, Blackness, music, and place. He delivers... Read More