What is your favorite true life sports story of one man's personal accomplishments?

Satchel Paige
Wilma Rudolph
Jim Thorpe

And last, but not at all least, Paul Robeson. Just his sports career alone would make him a legend, but man! he did more than that.

The only ones I´ve read are Lance Armstrong´s first biography and Seabiscuit, and www.thelugeman.com´s autobiography. The luge man´s autobiography is good for teaching people about perseveration and about the olympics creed, so maybe you want that one (I think the language is okay for eighth graders but I read it a long time ago). The author is also a public speaker.

Don Haskins coach of the Texas Miners 1966 NCAA Championship team.

Walter Payton
http://www.bearshistory.com/lore/walterpayton.aspx

Helen Keller had she taken up a sport.

Did you find a good story? The lugeman is going to the olympics in a few weeks…. I think the autobiography was even available for free on the net. Seabiscuit is interesting but I´m not sure if the level is above eighth grade or not. Here´s a website with some recommendations as well: http://us.macmillan.com/all/editorslist/Childrens/BiographiesandAutobiographiesforMiddleSchool The book called Brainstorm which has kid inventions in it sounds interesting and inspiring though that is not about sports. A Life in the Wild might be interesting as well.
Another link to an Andre Agassi autobio: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6480781-open