It’s Not About Perfect: Competing for My Country and Fighting for My Life

Miller, the most decorated gymnast in American history, recounts the steps (with sportswriter Peary) that brought her from an ordinary childhood in Edmond, Okla., to extraordinary accomplishment and fame on the Olympic stage. A shy little girl who initially walked in her older sister’s shadow, Miller began studying gymnastics at the age of five when her mother signed her up for classes as an alternative to jumping dangerously on the backyard trampoline. Miller takes readers through every step of her gymnastics career—from her first routines on the balance beam through her stunning 1992 Olympic debut and her dramatic win, in 1996, of the Olympic gold medal in the balance beam and the team gold medal as a member of the “Magnificent Seven.” Miller shares the life lessons that brought Olympic success and gave her the courage to battle ovarian cancer in 2011: goal setting, putting in the work, learning from mistakes, thinking positive, accepting help from others, and never giving up. Sports enthusiasts will applaud this in-depth account of Miller’s life; others will be drawn to the inspiring story of a strong and gracious athlete and women’s health advocate. (June) [em] [/em]