The Athlete Inside: The Transforming Power of Hope, Tenacity, and Faith

Reviewed by:

G. Connor Salter, Professional Writing alumnus from Taylor University, Upland, IN.

Title:

The Athlete Inside: The Transforming Power of Hope, Tenacity, and Faith

Author:

Sue Reynolds

Publisher:

Fortress Press (imprint of 1517 Media)

Publication Date:

April 28, 2020

Format:

Hardcover

Length:

200 pages

OVERVIEW

At 335 pounds, Sue Reynolds was morbidly obese. Four years later she placed sixth in the World Triathlon Championship. Here, she tells the story of how she committed to losing weight, went from simply trying to be healthy to becoming a world-class athlete, and also grow her faith.

Reynolds aims for honesty in this book, admitting the mistakes that caused her to become overweight and how hard it was to overcome her poor eating habits. She also analyzes what it was made her decide to become not just an athlete but an elite one, showing how the tenacious personality which gave her career success transferred over give her success in sports. The fact Reynolds doesn’t fit the “early teens to mid-twenties” profile of so many motivational speakers makes this book especially compelling. Her story carries a maturity and impact that too many motivational books can’t give because the authors usually haven’t experienced much of life yet. Reynolds gives readers hope it’s possible to change one’s life around at any stage.

Rating (1 to 5 stars)

4 stars

Suggested Audience

People interested in the training process for triathlons, people interested in understanding how to overcome mental and physical barriers to staying healthy.

Christian Impact

The author talks a little bit about her faith journey which grew during her physical transformation, and the spiritual conversations she had with her athletic coach. Readers will likely appreciate her insights into having a healthy friendship with someone who doesn’t share all the same views on spirituality.