Books have always been the quietest, yet strongest force in my life. I don’t just read sports biographies — I read across genres, across emotions, across worlds. Fiction, memoirs, thrillers, essays — if there’s a story, I’ll follow it. As a bookworm and a woman working in sport, I’ve come to rely on books not only for escape, but for strength. They feed my creativity, challenge my thoughts, and help me keep going on the days I feel drained by the constant push to prove myself — to work harder, speak louder, and show up stronger.
Among all the books I’ve read, one has become a constant companion on tough days: Rafa, the autobiography of Rafael Nadal. It isn’t just a book about a tennis player. It’s about mindset, resilience, and playing life like it’s a five-set final.
Giving Your All, Every Single Time
What makes Rafa more than a sports biography is how it captures a way of living. Nadal plays every rally as if it’s his last — with total commitment, full intensity, and no holding back. That mindset hit me hard. It became a mantra for how I work. Whether I’m producing a segment, writing a story, or running after deadlines, I try to give my all — even when no one’s watching, even when I’m tired, even when it feels like too much.
As a woman in sport, you’re constantly putting in that little bit extra — to be heard, to be seen, to be respected. It can be exhausting. But Rafa reminded me that showing up with effort, with heart, and with consistency is a kind of power. A quiet one. A lasting one.
Human First, Champion Later
What I love about Rafa is that it doesn’t glamorise greatness. It humanises it. You see the nerves before a match, the fear of failure, the body that sometimes refuses to cooperate. Behind the trophies is a man who hurts, doubts, and still gets up. That honesty is everything.
It reminded me that struggle doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong — it means you’re doing it real. And in the whirlwind of deadlines, expectations, and trying to do justice to every athlete’s story, I hold on to that truth tightly. We are all human first, even when we’re chasing something extraordinary.
Books Build Us
Books like Rafa shape the way I see the world — and myself. They build my courage, sharpen my voice, and offer perspective on the hardest days. They remind me that I don’t have to be perfect, just committed. That I don’t have to be loud, just clear. That effort, above all, matters.
So, on this World Book Day, I’m not just celebrating a favourite title — I’m honouring the many pages that have carried me through moments of self-doubt, burnout, and pressure. Books, like sport, have heart. And Rafa is one of the books that reminded me to keep mine in everything I do.
If you’re a reader who loves sport, or a sports fan who hasn’t yet picked up a book — let Rafa be your first. You’ll find more than a story. You’ll find fire.