Capitalizing on the London Olympics, which ?began July 27 and runs until Aug. 12, several Christian publishers have released titles by Olympians.

Last month, Thomas Nelson published Lopez Lomong's Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey From the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games. Lomong is competing for a medal in the 5,000-meter race at the London games Wednesday, Aug. 8.

Ryan Hall, a contributing author to The Greatest Leader Ever (Regal Books, 2011), was recently interviewed by The New York Times about his faith and how it became the central part of his training for his Aug. 12 marathon.

In September, Zonderkidz will release Reaching New Heights: The Kelly Clark Story. A two time medal-winning snowboarder, Clark will compete at the 2014 Winter Games in Russia. Proceeds from the book will go to the Kelly Clark Foundation, which helps U.S. student athletes pay for their tuition at mountain schools.

In June, Tyndale House Publishers released 2008 Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson's Winning Balance: What I've Learned So Far about Love, Faith, and Living Your Dreams. She appeared last month at the International Christian Retail Show in Orlando, Fla., to promote the book. A former winner of ABC's Dancing with the Stars, Johnson will also appear on the show this fall.

Also in June, Zonderkidz published Speed to Glory: The Cullen Jones Story. Jones was the second African-American in history to win an Olympic gold medal in swimming at the 2008 Summer Games in Beijing.

In May, Thomas Nelson released Redemption, which tells the story of Bryan Clay, winner of the 2008 Olympic gold medal and the 2004 Olympic silver medal in the decathlon. Clay, who went from being a fist-fighting, drug-using, suicidal kid in Hawaii to experiencing a desperate Christian conversion at a time of personal defeat, didn't make this year's decathlon team.

Meanwhile, the "A Very Special Christmas" music series, benefitting Special Olympics, will celebrate its 25th anniversary with two new albums Oct. 16 on two different labels. To be released by Big Machine Records, A Very Special Christmas 25th Anniversary will feature songs by Christina Aguilera, Francesca Battistelli, Michael Bublé, Cheap Trick, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Dave Matthews, Jason Mraz, One Republic, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry, Train and Wonder Girls.

Word Records will release A Very Special Christmas: Bringing Peace on Earth, featuring songs by Meredith Andrews, Chris August, Francesca Battistelli, Big Daddy Weave, Jason Castro, Group 1 Crew, Dara Maclean, Jamie Grace, Natalie Grant and Sidewalk Prophets.

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