Less than 100 days before the Olympic and Paralympic Games in France, a multitude of books dedicated to sportswomen are being published. A great wave of new releases which fills the sports shelves which until then were very devoid of books on women in sport. A beautiful tribute to the pioneers and sports enthusiasts via the literature that places them at the front of the track. Essays, comics, true stories…here is the presentation of seven books not to be missed this year.
By Laurie Delhostal and Cecile Grès
Editions La Martinière
In 1912, Pierre de Coubertin declared: “The true Olympic hero is, in my eyes, the adult male. At the Olympics, the role of women should above all be, as in ancient tournaments, to crown the winners. »
More than a hundred years later, this feminist work, signed by two authors and a talented illustrator, takes us to meet the pioneers who left their mark on the annals of sport. Although the emancipation of women in this field is recent, these unique stories bear witness to the long struggle led by strong and committed personalities, some of whom leave an immense legacy. These heroines from all disciplines and all nationalities remind us that the best response to ordinary misogyny – still very present today – remains action.
From Alice Milliat, founder of the Federation of Women’s Sports Societies of France, to Neroli Fairhall, the first paraplegic athlete to qualify for the Olympic Games, via Simone Biles, the most medal-winning gymnast in history, or Junko Tabei, first mountaineer to reach the summit of Everest, (re)discover these extraordinary champions and let yourself be inspired by their extraordinary journeys.
Publication: February 23, 2024.
From the Women Sports Journalists association and the Alice Milliat Association
Solar Editions
A unique tribute to all the gold medalists since 1900 by women sports journalists. From Paris 1900 to Paris 2024, this book presents, for the benefit of the Alice Milliat association, 80 portraits of Olympic champions (48, including Suzanne Lenglen , the Goitschel sisters, Colette Besson, Marie-José Pérec, Laure Manaudou…) and Paralympics (32, including Marie Bochet, Assia El Hannouni, Marie-Amélie Le Fur…) produced by 80 journalists from the Femmes Journalistes de Sport association which aims to make women more…
Publication: May 2, 2024
Also read: Interview with Kris, author of the comic strip “Violette Morris: to be killed by all means”
The Olympus
Editions Albin Michel
Eight vibrant portraits of sportswomen who fought against prejudices and prohibitions.
Strong women, athletes who fought to be able to practice their sport in the same way as men. With courage, fire in their eyes and rage in their stomachs, they dared. Say no, break taboos. Claim their place in training, in competition. Take back control of their body. In pursuit of the summits, the Olympians fought, invincible warriors, and opened the path of sport to all other women.
By eight voices from contemporary literature: Maïa Brami, Valentine Goby, Mathieu Palain, Sylvain Pattieu, Jennifer Richard, Caroline Solé, Carole Trébor, Jo Witek.
Publication: March 27, 2024
Champions: 50 women who left their mark on the history of sport
by Dupont Régis and Swetschin Valérie
Editions Eyrolles
Because sport is not just for men: the proof in 50 magnificent examples.
Beyond their undeniable sporting prowess and their incredible records, these 50 women athletes, champions, all have exceptional life stories. Whether it is their personal history or their commitments, they impress and prove that the history of sport is not only written in the male domain. These 50 champions bring new visibility to women’s sport and, beyond the stadiums, they influence mentalities. Thanks to them, sexism becomes more muted, stereotypes and clichés about women diminish. They are French, American, Norwegian, Russian, extremely famous or a little less known. They practice athletics, football, boxing, cycling, tennis or judo. They are able-bodied or disabled. This work pays tribute to these legends, these golden women and these exceptional champions. To their performances as much as to their daring fights.
Publication: April 18, 2024.
Also read: Béatrice Barbusse: “Female sports leaders experience significant inequalities and sexist situations that we do not talk about enough”
by Mélina Gazsi
DBS Editions
In sport even more than elsewhere, first place is the only one that counts. And despite all the obstacles they encountered on their way to achieving it, women were often the first… Here is the astonishing destiny of 120 exceptional sportswomen.
Women play an important role in sport. Paying tribute to them today is a way of measuring the progress made since the Middle Ages to the present day. It also means delving into the portraits of exceptional women. It is certainly offering ourselves jubilant moments of discoveries, of looking back on history, of humours and dramas, of hopes and battles, of obstacles and conquests, of suffering and sympathies, and of course of victories and passions. Why did they choose sport as a challenge? How did they choose one sport over another? How did they get there? So many questions that this book attempts to answer with humor, tenderness and in all human and sporting fraternity!
Publication: January 17, 2024
of Syanie Dalmat
Editions Talent Sport
“A legend must inspire”, as Marie-José Pérec, the greatest French athlete, recently said. Here are the inspiring stories of 65 immense champions.
How to define a sports superhero? There are probably as many answers to this question as there are champions in this work. Quite simply because these very high-level sportswomen, some of whom have contributed to changing history thanks to their extraordinary performances and personalities, all have backgrounds…
Publication: April 10, 2024.
Book “Sports! »
by Eric Mistler
Editions Kerber
The book “Sports! » is a collection of black and white portraits of women practicing a sport represented at the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Women of all ages, of all origins, amateurs in the first sense of Olympism. The photos are taken throughout France, in close cooperation with clubs and associations. All Olympic disciplines are represented.
Publication: 2023.
