Roar

A Celebration of Great Sporting Women

Sam Quek

Roar is a celebration of the bold and fearless - the women empowering future generations to follow in their footsteps - but it is also an inspiring look at how sport can change lives and challenge society.
From the tennis court to the boxing ring, the visibility of women in sports has been gathering pace. Women's competitions are increasingly popular. In Roar Sam takes a deep dive into the experiences of some of sport's most high-profile female athletes - some have overcome heartbreaking adversity to reach the top of their game; others have succeeded in the face of prejudice. Like Sam, all have been propelled by sheer grit and determination to succeed. Many now campaign for women's equality and acceptance in sport, knowing the confidence it can bring young girls and the message that they can achieve anything.
Featuring a series of candid interviews from some of sport's most successful women, Sam lifts the lid on what it takes to reach those heights: from coping with puberty to foregoing teenage fun to pursue a dream; from the punishing physical training schedule to the mental power needed to win or bounce back from defeat; from the pressure of the media spotlight to the challenge of competing as a new mother. And, what it feels like in that magical moment when you step up to the podium knowing every sacrifice has been worth it.
Contributors include Gabby Logan, Paula Radcliffe MBE (long-distance runner), Amy Williams MBE (skeleton racer), Dame Katherine Grainger (rower and current chair of UK Sport), Dame Sarah Storey (Paralympian cyclist), Fatima Whitbread MBE (javelin thrower), Sky Brown (skateboarder), Shaunagh Brown (rugby union player), Sheila Parker MBE (footballer and first England captain), Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE (hockey player and former England women's captain), Rebecca Adlington OBE (middle-distance swimmer), Christine Ohuruogu MBE (400 metres sprinter), and Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE (wheelchair racer and cross-bench peer).

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title
• Copyright
• Contents
• Foreword: Gabby Logan MBE
• Introduction: Sam Quek MBE
• 1 Making History – Paula Radcliffe MBE
• 2 Into the Unknown – Amy Williams MBE
• 3 Unlocking Potential – Dame Katherine Grainger
• 4 Never Give Up – Dame Sarah Storey
• 5 Strength and Power – Fatima Whitbread MBE
• 6 In the Moment – Sky Brown
• 7 Breaking Down Barriers – Shaunagh Brown
• 8 For the Love of Sport – Sheila Parker MBE
• 9 Trust and Responsibility – Kate Richardson-Walsh OBE
• 10 Digging Deep – Rebecca Adlington OBE
• 11 Conquering Expectations – Christine Ohuruogu MBE
• 12 Building a Legacy – Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE
• Afterword: Sam Quek MBE
• Acknowledgements