From the baseball diamond to the putting green, Latino athletes have made enormous accomplishments in athletics in the United States. Often competing in sports in which they were not historically welcome, Latinos have fought against numerous types of prejudice in order to play anywhere from high school to the Olympics. The historic achievements and contributions of Latino athletes reflect the experience of the athletes themselves: diverse, impressive, and growing in influence. "Latino Athletes" details the lives and legacies of 173 Latino men and women who have helped define excellence in competition. Whether an individual was born in the United States or emigrated from such countries as Cuba, Mexico, or the Dominican Republic, each Latino profiled has made significant contributions to athletics in the United States. Some of these athletes include Roberto Clemente, Pele, Scott Gomez, and Diana Taurasi. In addition to describing the accomplishments of each athlete, this book shares the relevant stories of the person's background and life outside of competition and examines the impact each athlete has made on his or her sport and society.
This insightful volume also features a further reading list specific to each athlete, as well as many black-and-white photographs. A bibliography provides listings of sources for further information about Latino athletes and athletics in general. One subject index allows the reader to search by such subjects as "golfer" and "mountain biker." Additional indexes organize athletes by their year of birth, and by their ethnicity.