Read an Excerpt

Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps adjusts the hood of
his parka and pulls it closer in an attempt to shut out the noise
from the crowd. He knows the hardest part of swimming is the
waiting. He goes over his swim in his mind, reviewing every stroke,
every turn, and every breath. His attention is entirely focused on
the swim ahead of him. The last thing he is worried about is his
swimsuit. Michael knows that the special science used to create
his suit will help him speed through the water.

Serena Williams rocks from side to side, reflexes on edge. The
tennis ball hurtles toward her. Whack! She slams it back across the
net and flips her racket around in her hand, ready for another volley.
Serena is confident and focused. She doesn’t even think about
the science that was used to make her racket lighter, stronger, and
more efficient.

Michelle Wie steps up to the tee. She cups her hand over her
eyes and stares down the fairway, spying her target: a tiny spot on
the grass more than two hundred yards away. Directing her
thoughts to the golf ball in front of her, she adjusts her stance.
She takes a deep breath, pulls the club back, and swings. Crack!
The ball sails through the air, heading toward the hole. Confidently,
Michelle leans over and plucks the tee from the ground. She strides
toward her ball, not once thinking about the science used to create
her club.