Making Waves: My Journey to Winning Olympic Gold and Defeating the East German Doping Program

by Shirley Babashoff, Chris Epting, Donna de Varona (Foreword)

In her extraordinary swimming career, Shirley Babashoff set thirty-nine national records and eleven world records. Prior to the 1990s, she was the most successful U.S. female Olympian and, in her prime, was widely considered to be the greatest female swimmer in the world.

Heading into the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Babashoff was pictured on the cover of Sports Illustrated and followed closely by the media. Hopes were high that she would become “the female Mark Spitz.”

All of that changed once Babashoff questioned the shocking masculinity of the swimmers on the East German women’s team. Once celebrated as America’s golden girl, Babashoff was accused of poor sportsmanship and vilified by the press with a new “Surly Shirley.”

Making Waves displays the remarkable strength and resilience that made Babashoff such a dynamic champion. From her difficult childhood and beginnings as a determined young athlete growing up in Southern California in the 1960s, through her triumphs as the greatest female amateur swimmer in the world, Babashoff tells her story in the same unflinching manner that made her both the most dominant female swimmer of her time and one of the most controversial athletes in Olympic history.

Genres: Sports, Biography, Nonfiction, Memoir

272 pages, Hardcover

First published July 12, 2016

Reviews

[Paul Carr · Rating 3 out of 5]

Until the 1990s, Shirley Babashoff was greatest female swimmer the U.S. had ever produced. But she never won an individual Olympic gold medal, because she was competing against East Germans who were later found to be doping. This is Babashoff's story, a straightforward, first-person account of her career and how she battled cheaters, even when no one understood at the time. It's a decent read for anyone into swimming and its history, or for a personal account of how doping affects a sport. Babashoff is honest and blunt without sounding bitter as she clearly states her past and present opinions. She went through a lot in her short swimming career, on top of being abused by her father. Babashoff's story has many head-shaking moments, and it's worth remembering.

[pianogal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was pretty good, especially since I read it during the 2016 summer Olympics - including the swimming. It made me really mad at the IOC though for a) doing nothing in 1976 and then b) 40 years later, basically doing nothing again when the Russians did the same thing. So apparently doping is now an official Olympic event.

Sad. At least the US has a predominantly clean program. We're not perfect either, but most of athletes choose hard work over drugs and that is something to be proud of.

[Joanne Lannin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Mark Spitz, who won 9 Olympic gold medals during his career, swimming was a very popular sport in the 1970s. Shirley Babashoff was expected to give Spitz's medal count a run for its money in 1976 in Montreal. But the East Germans pretty much swept the gold medals in swimming while Babashoff earned four individual silvers and one gold in the relay. It wasn't until the 1990s that the East Germans' systematic doping program would be exposed.
Shirley had been outspoken about her suspicions concerning the East Germans, whose bodies (and voices) changed dramatically between 1972 and 1976. But the media termed her complaints sour grapes and dubbed her "Surly Shirley." The New York Times, shame on them, ran a picture of her with the caption, "Loser."
Published in 2016, this is an inspiring, informative, and forthright story about Shirley Babashoff's life, her swimming career, and the lessons she learned through the trials, tribulations, and disappointments she endured. Her account of the Olympic 4-person relay in 1976, which she anchored, was gripping and I found myself welling up with pride as I read it. This book is also a great history lesson about a time when doping was so under the radar that few dared to question it, and not just in swimming.
I have only one complaint about the book. Shirley wrote it with a journalist who should have known better than to let the expression "all of the sudden" stand. (And it seemed to appear a lot). Every time I read that idiom it was like fingernails on a blackboard. I even looked it up to see if "all of the sudden" had suddenly become an accepted alternate form of "all of a sudden." (It hasn't). Otherwise, the book was actually well-written and the first person style was just right.
I will be recommending it to the students I know who are also competitive swimmers, but I'd go so far as to say, every teenaged girl would enjoy it and take something positive away from it. Thanks to Netgalley.com and the publisher for lending me a copy of the book to read online.

[Holly Kersten · Rating 5 out of 5]

Shirley Babashoff was such a great swimmer. It's incredible how she managed turmoil at home and still become a world champion. Heart wrenching how the media treated her in the 1976 Olympics despite swimming her best times....seems she had so much talent that if she didn't retire she could have continued many other epic swims...don't blame her not wanting to swim with cheaters, which occurred through the 198o's. So glad she found happiness raising her son and working for the US postal service. (Her brief 1976 interactions with OJ Simpson and Bruce Jenner are timeless

[Carol Kappe · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book. It brings home the tragedies of the many Olympic losses by women competing against DDR’s swimmers in the’70’s. Shirley stands strong and should be judged as an athlete who worked hard and advocates truth. If the Olympic Committee doesn’t take her recommendations, it is doing a great disservice to the games going forward.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Memoir of America’s greatest female swimmer of the 70s, who had to go against the East German doping machine in the 72 and 76 Olympics. Fun read although after her swimming career ended there were fewer stories of interest.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

great read if you like motivating biographies & sports

[Mel Raschke]

I bought this books after listening to Chris Epting and Shirley Babashoff talk. She is a hero. How lonely it must of been for her to go up against these people. You followed your heart and did what was right. I learned more about swimming. Excellent read.

[Cam C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is really great! ¨Making Waves¨ teaches really great lessons about honesty, working hard, and never giving up. This is one of my favorite books by far; and not just because it´s about swimming.

[Cathy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Met Shirley at a Book Signing. She has an interesting story to tell and it's been a long time coming.

[Gina Cummings · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. Never knew this story.