Outside the Rio Spotlight: American Triumphs You Didn't See at the 2016 Olympics

In the 2016 Olympic Games, a dozen athletes—record-breakers, notable pioneers, and all-around thrilling competitors—were overlooked in the prime-time TV coverage obsessed with  sprinters, soccer legacies, and “angry faces.”  Outside the Rio Spotlight tells tales of courage and American excellence at its peak, stories of those who contest in the lesser-known sports like judo, rowing, and fencing.

Told in the style of 16 Days of Glory, the book details the tournaments for these athletes who compete –with little funding and even less hype -- for the love of their sport and the honor of their country, which is the essence of the Olympics.

These U.S. athletes did it whether anyone was watching or not.