Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story

Notable Books for a Global Society, International Reading Association (IRA)
Books Reflecting Diversity: - A Look Into a Wilder World, Bank Street College Children’s Book Committee
Children’s Book Award Notable, International Reading Association (IRA)
Choices, Cooperative Children’s Book Center (CCBC)
Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, National Council for the Social Studies/ Children’s Book Council
Outstanding, Horn Book Guide

The inspirational true story of Sammy Lee, a Korean American who overcame discrimination to realize both his father’s desire that he become a doctor and his own dream of becoming an Olympic champion diver.

On a summer day in 1932, twelve-year-old Sammy Lee watched enviously as divers catapulted into the public swimming pool. Sammy desperately wanted to try diving himself, but the Korean American boy – like any person of color – was only allowed to use the pool one day a week.

This discrimination did not weaken Sammy’s newfound passion for diving, and soon he began a struggle between his dream of becoming an Olympic champion and his father’s wish for him to become a doctor. Over sixteen years Sammy faced numerous challenges, but he overcame them all and fulfilled both his dream and his father’s. In 1948 Dr. Sammy Lee dove into Olympic history. A matter of seconds after his final platform dive, the scores appeared and Sammy Lee became the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal.

Sammy Lee’s story of determination and triumph sets an extraordinary example for anyone striving to fulfill a dream. Winner of Lee & Low’s New Voices Award, Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds will inspire all who read it.