Title: Fast Girls: A Novel of the 1936 Women’s Olympic Team
Author: Elise Hooper
Rating Out of 5: 5 (I will read this again and again and again)
My Bookshelves: Feminism, Historical fiction, Sport
Pace: Medium
Format: eBook, Novel
Year: 2020
I’m someone who likes to read a good biography or historical fiction as a bit of a nighttime read. I tend to find they’re not quite as fast paced and intense as my fantasy and romance books. Fast Girls was supposed to be one such read. It didn’t end up being like that at all. Fast Girls was absolutely impossible to put down and filled my brain with so much amazing information that I honestly couldn’t sleep after reading it. The three stories of Betty Robinson, Louise Stokes and Helen Stephens were riveting and emotionally entangling. I love that they were based in reality, and it wasn’t just the stars that Hooper chose to focus on, but the other members of the Olympics team. Those that are sometimes just as talented, but get overlooked.
The fact that Hooper used two well-known women, Betty Robinson and Helen Stephens, but also a lesser known Olympian, Louise Stokes to tell this tale was a brilliant, and, admittedly, surprising move. It’s a great reminder of the strength of women and some of the different hurdles we’ve had to overcome in the past. I love that it honours the women who have come before and how important their multitude of contributions are. Not just those that are loud, proud, front and centre. But also the people who continued fighting and maybe never got any kind of acknowledgement whilst they were alive. It was definitely an interesting, but also very humbling read and thing to think about.
I’m passionate about my two chosen sports and have definitely got more dedication than some to do well in those fields. However, the dedication and passion that top athletes show is a bit of a different story. I love how well Hooper talks about this commitment. How it is almost a part of breathing to be running for these girls. Particularly in the 1930’s when they had even greater challenges to overcome than I do today. I can’t imagine that level of commitment and pure love – I get close with some things, but not like this. I love that Hooper spends a lot of this story emphasising that it’s not just the natural talent that got these three women to the top of their field. It was also their passion, commitment and pure stubbornness.
After reading Fast Girls, I not only want to discover more about Betty Robinson, Helen Stephens and Louise Stokes (although my understanding is that there is a whole lot less information about Louise out there). I also want to discover more about the “Nazi Olympics” of 1936. I’m also absolutely fascinated by the life and trials of Stella Walsh, who, whilst she didn’t feature in this story, has an interesting journey all of her own. I can’t imagine the social and political pressures surrounding the 1936 Olympics, and for this reason alone, I want to know so much more about it!!!
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