Running Sideways: The Olympic Champion Who Made Track and Field History

by Pauline Davis, Sebastian Coe (Foreword), T. R. Todd (Primary Contributor)

Winner, Autobiography/Memoir, International Book Awards, 2023 Winner, Biography/Autobiography, Track and Field Writers of America (TAFWA) Book Award, 2022 A raw, uplifting story from one of the most important hidden figures in track and field history. When Pauline Davis first began to run, it wasn’t with any thought of future Olympic glory. A product of the poor neighborhood of Bain Town in The Bahamas, she carried the family’s buckets every day to fetch fresh water—running sideways, sprinting barefoot from bullies, to get the buckets of water home without spilling. But when a seasoned track coach saw Pauline sprinting, he saw the heart of a champion. In Running Sideways, Pauline Davis shares her inspiring story. Born and raised in the ghetto, Pauline fought through poverty, inequality, racism, and political machinations from her own country to beat the odds and become a two-time Olympic gold medalist, the first individual gold medalist in sprinting from the Caribbean, the first Black woman on the World Athletics council, and a central figure in the Russian anti-doping campaign. A casualty herself of the doping plague that hit track and field—she wouldn’t be awarded her individual gold medal until Marion Jones was infamously stripped of her medals for doping—Pauline dedicated her years on the World Athletics council to clean sport and fair play. Running Sideways is a book about determination, faith, focus, and an incredible will to succeed. It’s about a trailblazer in women’s sports, not just in The Bahamas, not just in track and field, but on the global stage.

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction

338 pages, Paperback

Published December 20, 2023

Reviews

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting take on an autobiography. Most of the story was told in the first person, like a conversation with Pauline (I feel like I know her well enough now to call her by her first name), but then all of a sudden a quote would pop up from someone else as though they were being interviewed by someone about Pauline. Did she interview people about herself or grab quotes from other places? Either way, it would occasionally catch me off guard and make me wonder. For me, the point that stood out the most is something I feel the athletic community is still grappling with. How to keep these skilled people involved in athletics while at the same time trying to not open them to bribes, etc? What level of support can be allowed for the athletes to be comfortable and able to perform at their best? The western world needs to consider this. I will also admit that I spent a bit of time online trying to find a video of Pauline actually running sideways. She gives a wonderful description early on in the book but I wanted to see if the mental image she conjured matched reality. When I started this book, I admittedly had no heard of Pauline Davis from the Bahamas, but now I am 100% a fan of her on and off the track!

Thanks to NetGalley and Rowman & Littlefield for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

[Lauren J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Pauline Davis had an incredible running career. She was born to run and was recognized as promising at a young age. The Bahamian Olympic Committee did not always support her or value her contribution. Her journey had many ups and downs. She is truly a resilient person and came out on top in many occasions. This story is brutally honest, well written and in the end triumphant. I LOVED the ending!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever met someone and wondered how you had not heard about them before? Have you listened to their story in awe and been perplexed as to why their life story had not been on Sixty Minutes or their photo not plastered all over the top magazines as a beacon of light and inspiration?

I sit here now thinking just this.

Pauline Davis with T.R.Todd have recently released her autobiography, Running Sideways. I met Pauline in The Bahamas while on vacation a few months ago. Her aura was magnetic. When she mentioned her book was soon to be released I straight away pre-ordered a copy and am so glad I did. This beautiful, humble soul whom I met at the local markets has the most incredible story of triumph over adversity. Her story needs to be heard and read.

Pauline is a sprinting sensation. Five time Olympian and two time Gold medal Olympic Champion is just the start. Reading Pauline’s story gave me a new perspective on what it takes to become an Olympic Champion. Not even just an Olympic Champion but one who grew up with little monetary support, as a woman in a time when women were still being discounted as athletes and as a black woman from a county tiny in both size and infrastructure.

The way Pauline writes grabbed me. It’s like she’s sitting down and chatting with you over a cup of tea. She pours her heart out. I have the honor of interviewing Pauline for our podcast, Voices Two Dream shortly. Pauline’s story is not yet complete. I have no doubt that she will be continuing to change the world for the better for many more years to come.

[Misty MoonBeam · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring book! The history of The Bahamas is woven into the story of a world class Olympic champion. Must read!