Picabo: Nothing to Hide

by Picabo Street, Dana White

Olympic Gold Medalist Picabo Street is once again on the rise, ready to face the 2002 Olympics and tell her extraordinary story "Picabo Street...is the kind of athlete for which the Olympics were invented."­­USA Today "Street...has been performing at Porsche speed...dominating women's downhill... [a] comeback queen."­­Glamour "Picabo rules... America's irrepressible ski champion."­­Skiing Olympic Champion Picabo Street is golden once again The moment she burst onto the world stage at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, 23-year-old speed demon Picabo Street ignited a fire of excitement in the media and in the hearts of fans that continues to burn today. Free-spirited and outspoken, Street was a new kind of female athlete and a new kind of role model. Street followed her silver medal win with two straight World Cup downhill titles­­a feat unmatched in American skiing­­and finally, the ultimate Olympic gold medal win in Nagano in 1998. But success had its price. Just one month after her gold medal win, Street careened off course in a race in Switzerland, snapping her left femur in two, shredding the ligament in her right knee, and leaving her future in peril. Now, after two years of excruciating pain, grueling rehabilitation, and stunning personal growth, Street is making a comeback, ready to face the 2002 Winter Olympics and ready to tell her inspiring story. In this powerful, honest autobiography, Street shares her coming-of-age experience, revealing how adversity shaped a rebellious tomboy into a champion athlete and compassionate woman, in harmony with her family and at peace with her fear of failure. Here, for the first time, Street addresses the pressures exerted on her by her ski sponsors that may have been partly to blame for her terrible crash; the scandals surrounding the Salt Lake City Olympic Committee; and how she overcame a lengthy, debilitating depression. In the tradition of Lance Armstrong's It's Not About the Bike and Greg Louganis's Breaking the Surface, Nothing to Hide is a poignant, intimate account of a woman forced to rebuild herself­­body, mind, and soul. "I learned what all girls need to that you can kick ass, and you should never be ashamed of it."­­Picabo Street

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 18, 2001

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. It was amazing to see her journey to being such an amazing skier. It ends before the 2002 Olympics so kindof doesn't tell the whole story, but still good.

[Marisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Growing up Picabo Street was my hero. She was a strong, dominant female athlete in what was still a traditionally male-dominated sport. This may make me biased, but I believe anyone who is a ski racing fan would find this biography fascinating. It shows the inner workings of the ski culture and how much Picabo had to work through to find success.

I have read this book about three times and each time I still find it fresh and interesting. It is a great story of perseverance and ultimately, triumph. I'd highly recommend it for all sporting fans and particularly those who are fans of winter sports.

Who should read it? All ski racing fans, winter Olympic fans and sports fans.

See all my reviews and more at www.ReadingToDistraction.com or @Read2Distract

[Kennedy Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely amazing and inspiring story about a young ski racer overcoming obstacles and living life. Being a competitive ski racer myself, I have read the book 3 times trying to absorb the awesomeness of it. I love it. Definitely one of my favorite non-fiction books, and i recommend it especially to ski racers but anyone that has a passion for anything. This book is the definition of resilience and preserving.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first read this book in high school and have read it twice more since then!! Love all of her stories and experiences as an Olympic skier!!

[Kim Shears · Rating 4 out of 5]

She's a bad ass

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Funny and enjoyable: Picabo Street has an interesting voice and a captivating story.