The Girl Who Figured It Out: The Inspiring True Story of Wheelchair Athlete Minda Dentler Becoming an Ironman World Champion

by Minda Dentler, Stephanie Dehennin (Illustrator)

Overview

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!

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781728276533
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	03/05/2024
Pages:	48
Sales rank:	170,548
Product dimensions:	10.20(w) x 10.10(h) x 0.50(d)
Lexile:	AD680L (what's this?)
Age Range:	4 - 8 Years

About the Author

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. 

Editorial Reviews

"An inspiring story that opens up our hearts to ourselves and the people around us, and that shows the value of perseverance, determination, and self-confidence.” — Simran Jeet Singh, author of Fauja Singh Keeps Going

"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

"Kids who say ‘I can’t’ will learn from someone who could." — The Bookworm Sez

"A “movie-ready story." — Scottsdale Progress

"An uplifting ode to persistence." — Kirkus Reviews

"[An] inspiring story." — Youth Services Book Review, STARRED Review

"Breathtakingly inspiring...the message is perfect for all ages." — School Library Journal, STARRED review

From the Publisher

★ 08/16/2024

Gr 1–5—Dentler pens a breathtakingly inspiring memoir, told in picture book form. Readers follow the story of the author, whose journey was anything but easy. After Dentler is diagnosed with polio, her birth mother is unable to care for her and leaves her in an orphanage in India, where she is later adopted by a supportive New York family. From there, Dentler faces numerous challenges as she navigates a world that overlooks her because of her disability. Yet, with the encouragement of her family, she realizes that she can do difficult—seemingly impossible—things. Dehennin's stunning digital art brings this testament to the human spirit to life. The images vividly depict each stage of emotion that Dentler experiences while she, for example, struggles to do chores, learns how to swim, and runs her first race. As she discovers her passion for athletic competitions, she finds a running team that introduces her to hand cycling. This raw true story shows not only her greatest success, but also her very real failures, allowing readers to see her transformation from vulnerable orphan to confident world champion. Her motto, "I was stronger, I was smarter, I was more confident!" becomes a rallying cry for anyone facing obstacles. VERDICT An unforgettable tale of triumph. The message is perfect for readers of all ages, but the book itself works for first through fifth grades, and deserves to be in all collections.—Jessica Clark

School Library Journal

2024-03-23
An Indian American polio survivor explains how in 2013 she became the first female wheelchair athlete to complete an Ironman World Championship.

Born in a village near Mumbai, Dentler contracted polio before her first birthday; her legs were paralyzed. Unable to afford her care, Dentler’s loving single mother put her up for adoption. Adopted by an American couple, Dentler moved to Spokane, Washington. She endured multiple surgeries, and her adoptive parents encouraged her to achieve seemingly impossible goals, such as learning to walk with crutches and leg braces: “You can do it...Just figure it out.” But classmates sometimes excluded and taunted her because of her mobility aids and dark skin. Undaunted, Dentler grew up to accomplish much, including backpacking solo through Europe and becoming a White House intern. But ultimately, she wanted to be an athlete. After practicing handcycling, she competed in the New York City Marathon and, feeling “unstoppable,” set her sights on triathlons. Dentler tackled difficulties, such as learning to swim and adjusting to a racing wheelchair. She follows disappointments, such as being disqualified at her first Ironman attempt, with refreshingly concrete details of how she trained harder and, above all, believed in herself, punctuated by the refrain: “Just figure it out.” Ultimately, she completed an Ironman in Kona, Hawaii, swimming, biking, and running 140.6 miles. Dehennin depicts Dentler’s endeavors with bright hues and vivid expressions; fluid curves impart a sense of motion.

An uplifting ode to persistence. (author’s note, information about polio and wheelchair sports) (Picture-book memoir. 6-8)

Kirkus Reviews