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Twists and Turns by Matthew Mitcham
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Oh cool Aussie54 - thanks for the reminder. I've been meaning to get this book since last Christmas.
PaperMoon, I was lucky enough to find it at the library, which is the best way to read books, imho. If I really, really like them, I sometimes buy them, but otherwise, I haven't wasted my money.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...
Matthew's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MatthewMitch...
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_...
Blurb: People kept remarking on how they were surprised that a gold medal and fame hadn't changed me. I always responded, 'Why would I change? Being me is the easiest person to be.' I was lying. It wasn't. At the Beijing Olympic Games, he made history with an unforgettable dive, the first to ever score perfect tens from all four judges, and won gold for Australia. Grinning with pride from front pages around the world, there was no hint of the personal demons that had led this supremely talented young dynamo to quit diving less than two years before. Joyously out and proud, Matthew was a role model for his courage both in and out of the pool. Yet the crippling self-doubt and shadow of depression that had plagued him all his life forced him into premature retirement, at one point reduced to circus diving to earn money. Even after Beijing and being ranked No 1 in the world, those closest to Matthew could not guess that beneath that cheeky, fun-loving exterior he was painfully aware of how easily it could unravel. In the lead-up to the London Olympics, when injury threatened his hopes, he will have to find the strength again to balance his striving for perfectionism with the fear of his self-doubt taking hold again. Told with the honesty and courage he is admired for, Twists and Turns is an inspiring story of a true champion, in and out of the pool.
My thoughts: Matthew Mitcham is young to have written an autobiography, but he's packed a lot into his 25 years.
I've followed Matthew on Twitter for a while, and have loved his humorous interactions with fans. He's such a likeable character. It was an eye-opener to see the other side of his life, where he's suffered from such emotional turmoil.
His story is fascinating - it was hard to put down. (It's very skilfully ghostwritten by Larry Writer, who has worked on several other well known autobiographies.)
Highly recommended.