Derek Jeter, Michael Jordan and Serena Williams are just a few of the 34 inspirational athletes who made the cut in Sports Role Models: Book 1 from bestselling author Joseph Hoedel PhD. Readers will recognize many of the heroes Hoedel profiles, including Michael Phelps and Pat Summitt. Other chapters feature lesser known yet equally remarkable examples of the power of the human spirit, like Richard Norris Williams, who survived the Titanic and went on to win Wimbledon; or Bethany Hamilton, who lost her arm during a shark attack and returned to the waters to become a champion surfer. Each chapter is an engaging story about an athlete or coach who exemplifies positive traits that contributed to their success both on and off the playing field. For 20 years Hoedel has served as the CEO of Character Development and Leadership, an education-based curriculum company. He has created two educational programs that are used in more than 3,500 middle and high schools across the country.