Get ready for the 2024 Summer Games with these lauded listens

Katie Ledecky is one of the most decorated swimmers in women's sports history. She's competed in London, Rio, and Tokyo, and she won her first gold medal at age 15 as the youngest member of the American team. She's since gone on to win six more golds, demonstrating that her drive, passion, and commitment to the sport are simply unparalleled. In this memoir, she opens up about what it takes to achieve such a high level of success. Her dedication really shines through in her narration, which is full of the spark that has won her so many championships.

In this hilarious, sometimes absurd, and always fascinating collection of true stories, Jeremy Fuchs shares the weirdest, most unbelievable, and most inspiring moments in international sports history. Did you know that tug-of-war used to be a real event? Or that the Games as we know them today began in a tiny English village? Oliver Wyman's engaging narration will have you in stitches as he regales listeners with tales far too wild to be fake.

Basketball legend Stephen Curry will be at the Paris Games—his first time ever participating in the world's biggest sporting event. But what does it take to overcome the odds and change the game? That’s at the heart of the warm and revealing conversations between epic NBA sharpshooters—and father and son—Dell and Steph Curry in their Audible Original Heat Check. While Dell laid the groundwork, Steph later delivered a whole new era of jaw-dropping three-pointers from a time previously dominated by flying dunks. In these episodes, we hear how Steph experienced his life’s journey and how Dell saw it play out.

At the London Games in 2012, Gabrielle Douglas became the first African American gymnast to claim the title of individual all-around champion. This is her story from childhood through to her brilliant gold-medal performance. She shares her journey of faith and determination, recounting the struggles she's been through and the unexpected lessons she's learned along the way. Haleakala Wilson narrates this inspiring story with infectious warmth.

Women's World Cup champion and gold medalist Megan Rapinoe is a force both on and off the field. She has not only devoted her life to soccer but to speaking up for what she believes in and using her platform to advocate for causes she cares about. With her signature passion, wit, and joy, she finally shares her story in One Life. From realizing she was gay in college to coming out publicly in 2011; fighting for marriage equality; taking a knee in solidarity with Colin Kaepernick; or meeting and marrying her wife, she puts it all out there in this inspiring and vulnerable memoir.

Michael Phelps is without question one of our greatest living athletes, with a remarkable 28 medals to his name. He's won so many golds that his talent seems almost untouchable—and yet, as he shares in this memoir, his success isn't innate, but a product of hard work, a commitment to training, a fierce love for his sport, mental acumen, and a healthy relationship to competition. Anyone who's ever wondered what goes on in a champion's mind will appreciate this window into Phelps's remarkable life.

If you're looking for some historical inspiration to get in the mood for the Summer Games, this remarkable account of the US men's rowing team and their incredible victory at the 1936 Berlin Games is a must-listen. The boys on the team came from farming and logging families. They were working-class kids struggling to survive the Depression, and they came together to defeat the flashier elite teams for a chance to compete at one of the most tense competitions in the history of the Games. Narrator Edward Herrmann brings each of the boys to life, capturing their grit and determination. Complex, well-researched, and profoundly human, this is sports nonfiction at its finest.

Here's another incredible story from the history of the Games, though this one takes place in Hawaii in the 1930s. There, a group of Japanese American children, whose parents were workers on Maui's exploitative plantations, came together to pursue a seemingly impossible goal: to compete as swimmers on the world's grand stage. Their coach had hardly any swimming experience, they trained in irrigation ditches rather than pools, and they faced anti-Japanese racism at every step. But they persisted, and their story is as inspiring today as it was then. Alex Chadwick brings the perfect blend of tension and tenderness to his narration.

As the most decorated American basketball player in history, Teresa Edwards’s four gold medals and one bronze medal speak for themselves. Her titanic influence in the WNBA can’t be overstated, and her impact on the game at large is felt to this day. In this Audible Original, Edwards revisits her accomplishments, details her greatest obstacles, and shares her wisdom in her own voice. While this is a story about a basketball legend, Edwards proves that her words apply to anyone who has a big dream and the elbow grease to see it through.

Jim Thorpe, a member of the Sac and Fox Nation, led an extraordinary—and difficult—life. In this compassionate biography, David Maraniss paints a portrait of a complex man with a remarkable talent. Thorpe won gold in the decathlon and pentathlon in the 1912 games, then went on to play football and baseball. He also faced enormous struggles, having attended the Carlisle Indian School as a boy, and he wrestled with addiction in his later life. Maraniss tells his life story with thoughtful nuance, and his measured but engaging narration makes this listen all the more essential.

At the 1968 Summer Games in Mexico City, track and field star Tommie Smith, winner of the 200-meter dash, raised his black-gloved fist on the awards podium in a symbol of protest, resistance, and Black power. The gesture has become an iconic moment in sports and American history, one that still reverberates in the present day. In this autobiography, Smith shares the story behind the moment, explaining what led him to it, and how it shaped his life in the years that followed. This audiobook is a clearsighted and powerful insight into one of the most memorable moments in the history of the Games.

This comprehensive history of the Games is vital listening for sports and history buffs alike. Goldblatt traces the history of the modern Games from their reinvention in Athens in 1896 through to today, illuminating what they can teach us about contemporary society and politics. He shares plenty of stories of glory, conflict, and mind-boggling athletic achievement, but he also delves into how political events have shaped the Games, from fascist Germany to the Cold War. Napoleon Ryan's narration is part knowledgeable professor, part enthusiastic fan: He strikes the perfect balance between imparting information and highlighting the passion that defines the Games.

Listeners craving an in-depth look into some of the most important yet untold stories in the history of the Games will appreciate this fantastic narrative history. It tells the story of the 18 African American athletes who competed in the 1936 Games in Berlin—despite their heavily conflicted feelings about representing a segregated country. Yet they decided to defy the racism of both their own country and of the one they were competing in, and, in doing so, made history. Their story is one of pride, conviction, and courage. Leon Nixon gives a dynamic performance of this unforgettable book, capturing the specifics of each athlete's unique journey in his voice.

Four-time gold medal-winning gymnast and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient Simone Biles is an athlete like no other. Get to know Biles in this tell-all autobiography. Her inspiring tale is one of resilience through hardship, faith, family, and an unwavering belief in oneself. Narrated by the tremendously talented Imani Parks, this audiobook is sure to stick the landing.

If you're looking for a listen to get revved up about Paris, the location of the 2024 Summer Games, this lively audiobook is the perfect listen. If you're lucky enough to be in Paris, these four guided tours will provide a wonderful introduction to the city. But not to worry—if you're following along at home, the audiobook will make you feel like you're in the city's winding streets, taking in all its colors, sounds, and scents. Actor Gates McFadden's upbeat, intimate narration is so transporting, you'll feel like you're strolling through Paris with an old friend.