The Girl Who Figured It Out: The Inspiring True Story of Wheelchair Athlete Minda Dentler Becoming an Ironman World Champion
The uplifting true story of Minda Dentler, the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the Ironman World Championship triathlon.
Minda Dentler made history when she became the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the world's toughest triathlon, using only her arms to finish a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile marathon. But the journey there wasn't easy. Minda was paralyzed as an infant in India after contracting polio, and was left in the care of an orphanage. After she was adopted by an American family and moved to Washington, she underwent surgeries to enable her to walk with leg braces and crutches.
As she grew, she faced many challenges, but remained undeterred by her disability. Her decision to begin training and competing in triathlons was no different. Despite the obstacles and failures she experienced along the way, Minda's persistence and determination in the face of setbacks helped her to make sports history and inspire people around the world to rethink what's possible!
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Minda Dentler is the first female wheelchair athlete to complete the Ironman World Championship. She has been featured on CNN and NBC, and was nominated for an ESPN ESPY Award for the best female athlete with a disability. She has also written for Huffington Post and TIME, promoting the eradication of polio, and has served as a global immunization advocate for Rotary International and the UN Foundation. In addition to being a mom, an athlete, and an activist, she is a motivational speaker. She shares her story with Fortune 500 companies, including Amazon and Microsoft; non-profits; and universities, urging listeners to find their own personal Ironman.
Stephanie Dehennin is an Antwerp-based illustrator. After studying Illustration at Saint Lukas in Ghent, she -somehow unplanned- became a freelance Art Director in the magazine world, but never stopped drawing and painting. The love for illustration was too strong to ignore, so she decided to dedicate the rest of her career to drawing and painting for children.
"A fantastic read for all...Minda Dentler's story is a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the limitless potential that lies within us." -- City Parent
"Packed with words of wisdom for people of all ages." -- The Spokesman-Review
"A "movie-ready story." -- Scottsdale Progress
"Kids who say 'I can't' will learn from someone who could." -- The Bookworm Sez
"An uplifting ode to persistence." -- Kirkus Reviews
"[An] inspiring story." -- Youth Services Book Review, STARRED Review
