Relentless Spirit: The Unconventional Raising of a Champion

by Missy Franklin, D.A. Franklin, Daniel Paisner, Dick Franklin Narrated by Emily Rankin, D.A. Franklin, Dick Franklin

Overview

What does it take to become a champion? Gold medalist Missy Franklin, along with her parents, D.A. and Dick, tell the inspirational and heartwarming story of how Missy became both a legendary athlete and a happy and confident woman, something they accomplished by doing things their own way and making the right choices for their family.*

The word relentless has many meanings for swimmer Missy Franklin.* In the pool, it reminds her to remain steady and persistent, unyielding in intensity and strength.* In life, it tells her to reach down for her very best, even when it feels like there's nothing left.* The motto “don't quit” doesn't do it for Missy, but relentless gets her where she needs to be. And when Missy faces a challenge or a setback, her relentless spirit is what empowers her to learn, adapt, and move forward into the future.
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In Relentless Spirit, Missy and her parents, D.A. and Dick Franklin, share the story of how Missy became the athlete she is today, a six-time Olympic medalist, five of them gold. Since her Olympic debut in London's 2012 games-when Missy was just seventeen-people who have met the Franklins or seen them on TV have wondered what it was like to raise such a champion. What was the training like? How did Missy handle school? How did the family find the right facilities, coaches, and support network?
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The story that Missy, and her parents, share inside is both inspiring and heartwarming, explaining how she became both a legendary athlete and a happy and confident woman, something they accomplished by doing things their own way and making the right choices for their family, which includes Missy's faith journey, something she writes about with inspirational candor.
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Including the highs, the tough moments, and everything in-between, Relentless Spirit tells the story of a woman-and a family-full of love, heart, faith, and resilience.*


Read by Emily Rankin, with D.A. and Dick Franklin

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Praise for Relentless Spirit:

"A consistently sunny, family-oriented story of persistence and achievement." —Kirkus Reviews

"Conversational and sincere." —Bustle 

Library Journal

12/01/2016
Olympic gold medalist swimmer Franklin (b. 1995) has penned a compelling autobiography detailing her path to becoming an elite athlete. What makes Franklin's story stand out is her decision to cowrite with her parents, D.A. and Dick Franklin. The memories and personal insights into Franklin's perseverance and drive as a swimmer strengthen the admiration readers will feel for her. Starting with her early childhood swimming experiences (for example, when three-year-old Missy took off swimming in the ocean with her father's snorkeling mask), the Franklins tell the story of their daughter's love of the water and her sport. The recollections of Franklin and her family, when melded with the influence of her Christian faith, provide an intimate look at Franklin's beliefs. Throughout, it's clear that this athlete is mature beyond her years, and it's only through occasional flashes of goofiness and diarylike conversations that one is reminded of how much she accomplished at a young age. VERDICT This inspiring and quick read proves that Franklin's spirit is a strong as her backstroke.—Stacy Shaw, Orange, CA

School Library Journal

06/01/2017
"Relentless" is the perfect title for this engaging, vivid tale of young determination and drive. Swimming prodigy Missy Franklin's account, cowritten with her parents, of her path to the Olympics is a reach-for-the-stars story that will enthrall adults and teens, who will be eager to see how the young athlete navigated each bump and curve. Missy Franklin explains how the word relentless motivates her to push herself. From early moments where she soared despite fear and uncertainty to her success as a decorated Olympian and celebrity athlete, she never gives up. Some may initially be deterred by the title's length but will quickly find themselves deeply absorbed. VERDICT An inspiring book that will appeal to sports fans, educators seeking a classroom read, and those looking for an uplifting memoir.—Ashley Selima, Lincoln Public Library, RI

Kirkus Reviews

2016-10-17
A decorated Olympian reflects on her supportive upbringing and celebrated competitive swimming career. Five-time gold medalist Franklin's affinity for water began when she was a child vacationing with her family at oceanside locations and, later, in grade school, where she discovered and began honing the ability to "swim fast on my back." With obvious pride, she describes a succession of swim meets, influential coaches, competitions, and national championships, near and far, which her parents, who co-authored the book, were more than happy to shuttle her to. At some point, writes the author, "a switch got flipped, and swimming became something else—something more." With her parents' blessings and ceaseless encouragement, Franklin began training with top-level professional coaches. In perhaps her greatest achievement to date, Franklin, then just 17, won five Olympic medals (four golds, one bronze) at the 2012 London Olympics. A blitz of media attention descended on the family, but Franklin became buoyed by an insistence on finishing her secondary education with her friends and graduating class at Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora, Colorado, where her spirituality bloomed as well. Throughout the book, Franklin effusively credits her parents as being "at the heart of everything I do, everything I am, everything I might become." The co-authors add depth, personal history (both were victims of childhood abuse), and alternating perspectives on raising their daughter and cultivating her talent. They also offer a clear glimpse into how they raised and molded Missy to become a humble champion who continues to persevere—despite self-critically disappointing performances at the recent 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Brazil. But this is very much the swimmer's memoir. In a breezy style, she focuses on charting her own physical prowess and competitive skills while honoring and staying true to the interconnectedness and gravity of the family bond. A consistently sunny, family-oriented story of persistence and achievement.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940172169854
Publisher:	Penguin Random House
Publication date:	12/06/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged

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