La historia del clavadista olímpico Sammy Lee (The Story of Olympic Diver Sammy Lee)

By Paula Yoo, Dom Lee, Claudia Oemer
Out of Stock

Paperback available October 7, 2025

Esta cautivadora entrada en la series de “Historia” de libros por capítulos biográficos se enfoca en Sammy Lee, un clavadista coreanoamericano que fue el primer asiaticoestadounidense a ganar una medalla de oro en las olimpiadas.

This compelling entry in the “Story of” line of chapter-book biographies features Sammy Lee, a Korean American diver who became the first Asian American to win an Olympic gold medal.

Front cover for The Story of Olympic Diver Sammy Lee by Paula Yoo and Dom Lee
This book is also available in English
The Story of Olympic Diver Sammy Lee
By Paula Yoo, Dom Lee
Front cover for Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds by Paula Yoo and Dom Lee
This book is also available in English
Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds
By Paula Yoo, Dom Lee

Description

Desde su primer clavado en una piscina publica a los doce años, Sammy Lee quedó enamorado del sentido de volar. Pero en 1932, las personas de color –como el coreanoamericano Sammy– solo podían entrar a la piscina publica una vez a la semana. El padre de Sammy le aconsejó que se olvidara de su pasión por los saltos y lo empujó a enfocarse en estudiar para ser doctor. Pero Sammy Lee persistió en su practica de saltos, a pesar del prejuicio que enfrentó, y estudió para ser doctor a la misma vez. Tras años y años de esforzarse, el Dr. Sammy Lee se zambulló en la historia olímpica en 1948 al convirtirse en el primer asiaticoestadounidense a ganar una medalla de oro en las Olimpiadas.

La historia de determinacíon y triumfo de Sammy Lee es un ejemplo extraordinario para cualqueira que esté persiguiendo un sueño. Este libro por capítulos incluye ilustraciones en blanco y negro, así como barras laterales sobre temas relacionados, una línea de tiempo, un glosario y lecturas recomendadas. Perfecto para lectores que buscan pasar de libros ilustrados al siguiente nivel de lectura.

From his first dive in a public swimming pool at twelve years old, Sammy Lee fell in love with the feeling of flying. But in 1932, people of color — like the Korean American Sammy — were only allowed to use the pool one day a week. Sammy’s father told Sammy he should forget about his passion for diving and pushed him to focus on studying to become a doctor instead. But Sammy Lee persisted and kept practicing diving, despite the prejudice he faced, and studied to become a doctor at the same time. After years and years of working hard, Dr. Sammy Lee dove into Olympic history in 1948, becoming 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. This chapter book edition includes black-and-white illustrations as well as sidebars on related subjects, a timeline, a glossary, and recommended reading. Perfect for readers looking to move from picture books to the next reading level.

Check out the other titles in this series: LA HISTORIA DEL HÉROE DE LOS DERECHOS CIVILES JOHN LEWIS • LA HISTORIA DE LA ESTRELLA DE CINE ANNA MAY WONG

About the Creators

A photo of Paula Yoo, author of Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds.
Paula Yoo

Paula Yoo is an author and screenwriter whose children's books for Lee & Low include Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds, Shining Star, and several titles in the Confetti Kids series. Her titles have been recognized by the International Reading Association, the Texas Bluebonnet Award Masterlist, and Lee & Low's New Voices Award. She and her husband live in Los Angeles, California, where she works in television. You can visit her online at paulayoo.com.

Dom Lee

Dom Lee made his picture-book debut with Baseball Saved Us. He grew up in Seoul, South Korea, and went on to illustrate books in both the United States and Korea. His titles for Lee & Low include Ken Mochizuki's Passage to Freedom and Heroes, as well as the award-winning Sixteen Years in Sixteen Seconds. Lee's unique illustration style involves applying encaustic beeswax on paper, then scratching out images, and finally coloring the images with oil paint. Lee and his wife live in Hollis, New York.

Claudia Oemer
Claudia Oemer

Claudia Oemer is a German Ecuadorian translator based in Quito. She has worked in translation for more than a decade in the academic, literary, and business realms. She is trilingual and translates English, German, and Spanish works. Her translated books with Lee & Low include Rosas para Isabella and La historia del clavadista olímpico Sammy Lee.

Awards

  • Delaware Diamonds Awards

    Diamond State Literacy Association

Reviews

  • "Includes additional sections on Korean immigration to the U.S., Asians in California, and Olympic diving. . . . Better designed to attract and inform middle-grade readers. These well-crafted, insightful biographies provide a useful historical context for each person's story."

    - Booklist
  • "Blending the inspiring story of Olympic diver Sammy Lee with the history of Asian Americans in the United States and diving as an Olympic sport, Yoo packs much into a slim volume. . . . Yoo's prose is ideal for middle graders, providing an ideal amount of information to attract and hold their attention. The unique and evocative art, created with a combination of painting and scratching details in encaustic wax, elevates the text."

    - School Library Journal

Paperback

  • ISBN 9781643797601
  • Price $11.95
  • Publication Date Oct 07, 2025
  • Trim Size 8.25 × 5.5 in
  • Weight N/A
  • Page Count 80
  • Interests

  • Imprint Lee & Low Books
  • Audience Children
  • BISAC Category 1 JNF / Biography & Autobiography / Sports & Recreation
  • BISAC Category 2 JNF / History / United States / 20th Century
  • BISAC Category 3 JNF / Sports & Recreation / Olympics
  • Themes Asian / Asian American / AAPI, Biography / Memoir, Courage, Discrimination, Dreams & Aspirations, Heroism, History & Civics, Identity / Self Esteem / Confidence, Informational / Expository Nonfiction, Nonfiction, Overcoming Obstacles, Persistence / Grit, Sports, Sports History, Tolerance / Acceptance, United States History
  • Languages Spanish
  • Reading Levels

  • Age Range Ages 13 - 17
  • Grade Range Grades 8 - 12