9 Lives by 35: An Olympic Gymnast's Inspiring Story of Reinvention

by Mary Sanders, Robert Herjavec (Foreword)

Olympic gymnast and Cirque du Soleil acrobat Mary Sanders shares her incredible story of dedication and personal sacrifice that led to success and reinvention.

Mary Sanders was handed an Olympic dream by her father from the moment she was born. Determined to follow in his footsteps, the young gymnast struggled through training setbacks, financial hardships, and personal rivalries, under a cloud of grief, to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. But that achievement was only the beginning for a woman determined to reinvent herself and consistently raise her own standards for success.

In this revealing memoir, Mary recounts her journey from Olympian to Cirque du Soleil acrobat to entertainment executive working for Shark Tank ’s Robert Herjavec while balancing life at home with two children.

Through it all, no matter what obstacles are thrown in her path, Mary pushes forward, leaning on her faith, her family, and her enduring optimism to support her in each of her nine lives so far.

Genres: Sports, Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir

222 pages, Paperback

Published November 7, 2023

Reviews

[Liralen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars. Sanders has lived a life that most of us can only, well, read about—dedicating her life from a young age to rhythmic gymnastics, moving from the Olympics to the Cirque du Soleil to other roles generally in the entertainment realm.

I suspected going in that this wouldn't be 100% the book for me because it's packaged as part memoir, part self-help, and I'm only interested in the memoir part of that. As it turns out, the self-help is largely limited to the overall structure and some takeaways at the end of each chapter, but I just...didn't love this as a book. It's more autobiography than memoir (a broad look at the author's whole life rather than a dive into a specific part of her life), meaning that there's quite a lot more telling than showing; there are precious few fleshed-out scenes, and I was sorry not to see more about the specifics of rhythmic gymnastics, which doesn't get anywhere near the attention that artistic gymnastics gets. I'd love to better understand what a daily practice looked like, what her routines looked like, how it felt in her body to perform those routines, how long it took to get used to the different apparatuses, etc., but the gymnastics part of the book focuses more on zooming through competition results. I rather wish Sanders had worked with a ghostwriter to write something focused more specifically on the gymnastics period of her life, maybe thrown in a thing or two from Cirque du Soleil as needed, and then considered a second book about Cirque du Soleil as a follow-up.

As the book goes on, it sort of starts to feel like...like Sanders had been storing up her shitlist and is ready to name every person who's ever done her wrong? Certainly not to the extent of some books, to be sure. Not the end of the world. But then there's this, about her first husband: Before we got married, we had a huge fight about whether his daughter would be at the wedding. For once I wanted it to be just us to celebrate with our families. Of course, Dominic wanted his daughter to be the flower girl and to dance the night away with us all. ... I knew the wedding would not feel like it was to celebrate us; instead, it was to celebrate as a family with his daughter. (138–139)

To be fair, Sanders walks this back a bit later, noting that she was young and unprepared for this commitment: Looking back, I can see that I was selfish at times. (170) ... Was I ready to be a stepmom? No. Now that I have two kids of my own, I know I would never let anyone stand in the way of time with my kids. (171) But...well. I try not to judge a memoir by the writer's actions, but rather by how they write about and reflect upon those actions and decisions and previous thought processes, and there was nowhere near enough reflection there for me to un-flabbergast me as I read the rest of the book. If one of Sanders's mother's partners had demanded a wedding free of children from previous relationships, Sanders would—rightly—have added it to the shitlist about that partner. If a friend came to me and said, 'My fiancé wants his five-year-old daughter at our wedding, but I want it to be all about meeeeee', I'd ask if she was really ready to get married, because something clearly wasn't getting through—and tell her that I was 1000% with the fiancé. And if a friend came to me and said, 'My fiancé doesn't want my five-year-old daughter at our wedding', I would say jfc, get the fuck out, my dude, this is not the person you want to be the step-parent to your child.

So. Yikes on bikes. I seem to be in a minority here, and that's fine! I hope other readers enjoy this more than I did! I also hope other readers have the baseline common sense to not say "I just want our families to be there, so your daughter can't come"! Also, I hope rhythmic gymnastics starts to get a bit more publicity so that more people are likely to write books about it, because I'm still curious.

[Josephine Jarman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truthful and thoughtful look at the life of a top gymnastic . In her own words you feel her transformation as each stage of her 9 lives by the age of 35. As she grows and lives the fact honesty and hindsight shones through. You think about the side of gymnastics you don't see the true dedication sacrifice and health battles. It gave ne a deeper understanding of what it means to be thus dedicated. I throughly enjoyed the highs and lows and would recommended this to anyone.
Thank you netgallery and publisher and author for a solid 5 star read

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, 9 Lives by 35, by Mary Sanders, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Mary has had an incredible life, going to the Olympics as a rhythmic gymnast, working for cirque de soleil, and working for Robert Herjavec. Working for Robert, Mary got to watch him on Dancing with the Stars, and fall in love with his dance pro Kim. Mary is a fascinating person to read about, I liked her spiritual side too. A good book about a well rounded woman.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has to be one of the best memoirs I've ever read. Just what Mary has accomplished by age 19 is incredible! I've been looking up the performances and things she's referenced in the book on YouTube and it's SO cool to see the actual performances that she's talking about! And as I prefer with ALL memoirs/autobiographies, this book is written in chronological order!

I learned quite a lot about rhythmic gymnastics, and after watching videos on YouTube, it's really pretty incredible! I thought rhythmic gymnasts mainly used ribbons and, well, "danced around with them", but it is SO much more than that! I knew they used ribbons and occasionally a ball, but I didn't know they used hoops or clubs! It's really cool to watch!

I love how this book is just plain honest. A lot of memoirs will be vague or try to talk around some things to avoid backlash, but Mary Sanders just states the facts. (Though I will say in her last life, she didn't really "star in a movie", more like she had a minor role. Being executive producer was probably the more prominent feature of her 9th life.)

I can't believe I got to meet this incredible woman, and she even lives in the same town as me! 😱

[Kelsey Rhodes · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was set up to be a moving and powerful memoir by an important woman in the Olympic world. There were parts of it that really impacted me. I don't think any of us can ever understand how challenging the life of gymnasts at this level are unless we lived it ourselves. I just wish we'd left the kind of motivational, self-help angle out of the story.

[Sylvie Lendvay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down. Mary is an inspiring and incredible woman.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

9 lives by 39 is a memoir about how someone can go through many different phases or “lives” in their life. Sanders is an Olympic rhythmic gymnast who grew up in Canada and went on to compete in the United States because of her dual citizenship. She lost her father, also a gymnast, passed away when she was quite young which left her mother a single mom with multiple kids who were all athletes, but she always did whatever she could to make sure her kids could continue to follow their dreams. When regular gymnastics was not the right fit for her anymore, she switched to rhythmic and was really successful. Unfortunately, there is less funding available for Canadian gymnasts, so when she was offered the opportunity to compete (with funding) for the US, this led to another stage in her life. After the Olympics, she went on to perform as an acrobat with Cirque du Soleil, another unique stage. Throughout her life she persevered through difficult situations, pushed her body past all limits and fought to maintain relationships even while constantly being on the road. This story reminds readers that you can follow your dreams no matter what your situation is, but it also is cautionary in that sometimes you need to consider what is worth the risk when it comes to your health, your family and your life. Overall, it was a super good book and I loved that I could read about gymnastics, and rhythmic gymnastics and from both a Canadian and American perspective. There was even a little commentary on the Larry Nassar case in USA gymnastics which I thought was pretty interesting. It is awful how many people he abused in his career!

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for giving me the chance to read and review this great book!

[Sean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a former gymnast and someone who has always loved gymnastics this book is a real testament to the training and his difficult it is to be what we are.


Coming from a background of artistic and not rythmic means I don't have the same background knowledge of the events or of skills performed or what they are named.  What it does give me is an appreciation for what these people go through daily.


Rythmic gymnastics is a very different skill set and it's more based on beauty of the movements as well as the ability to use devices in the performances.  While the artistic gymnastics is very much more about the tricks and the strength then in the poetry in motion.


A gymnasts life can be lonely as you train so much of your time which leaves little for anything else.  Often the gymnasts become your family more than your own family.  In this case her father was her coach which allowed that bond but as you will read it felt very strained and she was pushed beyond her abilities and capabilities at a very young age.


Her father's name for her of Little Olympian must have been a huge pressure for her as she was trying not to let her father down as he was unable to achieve that goal.


I could her anguish at parts of this book and felt ashamed at some of how she was treated by Canadian gymnastics federation.  


I love the story of the Athens Olympics and touring and then instead of doing her university degree she went to cirque du Soleil.  Following her passion for performance.


The concept of the life and how many she has is interesting however it can at times be a little bit as well since that is what separates her chapters as well as all the major important points of her life.


Finding out that Nassar had been part of her life in 2012 was sickening especially knowing what happened as she explained it.  It is horrid to think of what the young women who were treated by Nassar endured.


The book was very well written and edited.  I am coming to the conclusion that Dundurn Press the publisher has the most amazing team for memoirs.  This is my second memoir from the publisher and both have been some of the best writing that I have seen.


What a harrowing life she has had from a young age up until she was an adult and had accidents that could have killed her.  She persevered through everything and has shown a grace that few seem to have.


The books title fits well with the idea of having different lives.  Like the title this is like a cat and she ended up using her 9 lives and was only 35.  Mary is a powerful person who survived multiple issues and she managed to come out stronger and with the family that she deserves to have.


I want to thank the author for writing this book and the publisher for granting me the opportunity to read the advanced reader copy so that I could do an honest review.

[Poppy Marlowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
*********************************************************
Olympic gymnast and Cirque du Soleil acrobat Mary Sanders shares her incredible story of dedication and personal sacrifice that led to success and reinvention.
Mary Sanders was handed an Olympic dream by her father from the moment she was born. Determined to follow in his footsteps, the young gymnast struggled through training setbacks, financial hardships, and personal rivalries, under a cloud of grief, to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. But that achievement was only the beginning for a woman determined to reinvent herself and consistently raise her own standards for success.
In this revealing memoir, Mary recounts her journey from Olympian to Cirque du Soleil acrobat to entertainment executive working for Shark Tank’s Robert Herjavec while balancing life at home with two children.
Through it all, no matter what obstacles are thrown in her path, Mary pushes forward, leaning on her faith, her family, and her enduring optimism to support her in each of her nine lives so far.

An interesting biography that is hidden within a self-help book that will appeal to fans of reinvention and reacclimating their lives upon the advice of others. Not my cup of tea, but I know of clients who would lap this book up despite its clunky writing styles (I kept thinking that it was 9 different forms of narration....the opening written by Robert Haerjvec was the best writing in the book.) and love its #cancon
#shortbutsweetreivews

[Sara P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book via Goodreads giveaway and could not put it down! Although my life experience has been very different than Mary's, I found so much to relate to in her words. She is talented at communicating not just what happened to her, but also the results both emotionally and physically. Reading this book lets you really feel the journey to the Olympics and Cirque du Soleil and I was rooting for her the whole time. She repays this attention in spades by rooting right back!

I enjoyed and found very useful her encouragement to keep a clear reason behind your actions, to reinvent yourself and give yourself the right to be your own best advocate. All and all, I really enjoyed and needed to read this now. Thank you to Mary Sanders and Murray Weiss for this wonderful book.

[Meggen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book, I really did. I mean, it's a story of a young woman who overcame many difficulties, became an Olympian and remade herself and her life many times. That should be a winning story. The thing that got in my way was the author herself. I didn't find her to be likeable. She was rather selfish all throughout the book. I just couldn't ever get past her personality. I also felt that the writing itself got in the way of the narrative. There's too much telling and not enough showing.

[A. Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary’s story of her transformative life is honest and inspiring - a reminder for all to allow the strength within us to shine through regardless of what life throws at us. There were many circumstances that could have changed the path she was on but her willpower and reliance on faith and family helped her excel. I love how easy this read was and the ties back to her faith. I would recommend this book to any young woman or anyone really who is looking for motivation to transform.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I started this book wondering at the title, but by the end, I understood. Mary Sanders has lived a storied life that is both full and built on stories that had me biting my nails. Her frank storytelling and moments of reflection caused me to reflect on how I'd handle being in similar, questionable situations and appreciate how she found the strength to keep going.

[Adelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was even better than I expected! I loved reading about her life and experiences not only as an athlete and performer but also as a mother and family member. I also loved how it was separated into different "lives", I thought that was really cool and original.

[Lorne And · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary's book about her life is open, honest, and inspiring. We were so touched to see how her faith helped her face her challenges with courage and hope. This book is a must-read for anyone wondering what the next chapter of their life can be.

[Jayde Marie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i love a good memior… honestly i don’t think there are enough althlete memiors/ bios so i def welcome this …. if you love to watch the olympics i would def recommend this book!

[Suzy L · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really loved this book, couldn't put it down and read it in one day.

What an incredible life Mary has led, with such intriguing stories of re-invention! Highly recommend

[Athena Masotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! A true look into what it takes to be a dedicated gymnast, producer and mother. Highly recommend reading.
Motivating and inspiring.

[Aranka · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read. I’m not used to athlete memoirs being this engaging!

Mary is so honest and raw telling the reader about her different lives. Great read, I highly recommend.

[Melissa O'Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mary Sanders was destined to be an Olympian and follow in her father’s footsteps. Her life as a gymnast was plagued with setbacks, financial hardships, and grief with her goal being to compete in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

Mary reinvents herself time and time again. From Olympic gymnast to Cirque du Soleil acrobat she puts her all into whichever life she’s pursuing. She recounts her struggles and how her family and her faith helped to get her to where she is today.

I really enjoyed this memoir and learning about the behind-the-scenes that go into a gymnastics performance or a Cirque du Soleil show. We often don’t think of all the hard work and grueling hours that have to be put in for us to see the finished project.

Thank you to NetGalley and DunDurn Press for allowing me to read an ARC of this novel. #NetGalley #9LivesBy35

[Pam Jewell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot recommend this book more! If you from the gymnastics community it’s incredibly inspiring to hear this story about how Mary made her Olympics dream come true, even through struggles and obstacles and a lot of hard work!
But this book is also very inspiring for women. I’ve found since becoming a wife and a mother it’s so easy to lose yourself and your dreams. This book reminded me there are still many more lives out there and we can continue to transform and find a new dream.

[Juli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I tend to struggle reading autobiographies and every time I picked up this book, I struggled to put it back down.

9 Lives by 35 is the story of Mary Sanders, and how she grew from being her father's "Little Olympian" to the woman she is today. I really enjoyed how the story was organized and how each chapter was a different "life". The book displays Mary's passion for everything she has pursued, and the reflections at the end of each chapter bring together her past "lives" as she springboards herself towards her next passion.

My favorite aspect of the book was the "What I Learned" reflection at the end of each chapter, where Mary debriefs on the most recent "life", reviewing the Reason she got through each day, the Reinvention she went through, and Right she had to make the choices she did and how they would bring her into the next chapter of her life.

Thank you to Mary Sanders for sharing her story with us and providing readers with the opportunity to witness her many lives, as well as give us the confidence to follow our passions and live every single one of our lives to the fullest.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This inspiring memoir from an Olympic rhythmic gymnast helps the reader understand the work and sacrifices that go into the sport. It also shows the darker side. It was a quick but powerful read.