Books in Amazing Athletes series

On snowboarder Shaun White's first run on the halfpipe at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, Canada, he set the high score and secured the gold medal. On his second run, which people called a "victory lap," Shaun set an even higher score to destroy the competition. But Shaun is more than a two-time Olympic snowboarding champion. He's also a world-class skateboarder. As the first person to compete in both the Summer and Winter X Games, Shaun is the biggest star in two sports. Learn more about his high-flying skills and unique personality.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton is one of the biggest stars of the National Football League (NFL). The Panthers chose Cam as the first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft. He went on to win the 2011 Offensive Rookie of the Year award. In 2015, Cam led Carolina to the best record in the league and a place in Super Bowl 50. Learn more about Cam's journey to NFL stardom.

Richard Sherman is so good at defending passing plays that quarterbacks avoid throwing the ball in his direction. His incredible ability to smother opposing wide receivers helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl in 2014. Richard is a big talker, and he's known for his brash personality on the field. Players and fans also know him as one of the best and most intelligent players in the National Football League (NFL).

As the first player taken in the 2004 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft, Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard created high expectations. He has more than lived up to the hype. Dwight led his team to the NBA Finals in 2008-2009 and was named Defensive Player of the Year. In 2009-2010 Dwight was named to the Eastern Conference All-Star Team for the third time. He also became the first player ever to receive more than three million All-Star votes from fans. Follow Dwight's career all the way to the top of the NBA.

Houston Texans defensive lineman J. J. Watt is one of the biggest players in the National Football League (NFL). But he wasn't always on track for stardom. J. J. started his college career playing tight end at Central Michigan University. A career in the pros seemed out of reach. But after a transfer to the University of Wisconsin and a switch to the defensive line, J. J.'s hard-hitting talents began to shine. In 2012, J. J. led the NFL in sacks and cemented himself as one of the league's most-feared players. Learn how J. J. beat the odds and rose to fame.

When Russell Wilson played for the University of Wisconsin, many people thought he was too short to be a starting quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). But he proved these doubters wrong. This Seattle Seahawks quarterback led his team to victory in his very first season, winning the 2014 Super Bowl. Football fans cheer his passing power and leadership skills. Find out more about Russell's journey to the top.