"Challenger Deep: Athletes Rising Above Adversity" is a book from Jeff Heggie and Tami Matheny that shares real life stories of athletes who faced their own adversity, but rather than give up they figured out how to rise above and become stronger than they were before they faced their challenges.
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“In stories, as in life, adversity teaches us things we cannot learn otherwise. Adversity helps to develop a depth of character that comes in no other way. Our loving Heavenly Father has set us in a world filled with challenges and trials so that we, through opposition, can learn wisdom, become stronger, and experience joy.” - Dieter F. Uchtdorf

Challenger Deep is the deepest part of the ocean- therefore the lowest point on Earth, more than 36,000 feet below the ocean’s surface. You physically can’t get any lower.

The beautiful thing about being at your lowest point is there is nowhere to go but up. In moments of adversity, we must stop, look up and focus on the little bit of light that’s peeking through. In some instances, you may not be able to see any sort of light, but the belief that you soon will, can be your salvation during these times.

Several key points on adversity:

1. When looked at with the right perspective, it can be used to not only help you, but to also help others.

2. When things get dark and you feel like there is no hope, keep going. In these moments when there seems no way out, we are becoming stronger and more resilient. This is where our skills are developed and our “why” is tested.

The only place to go, is up. Keep climbing even when you can’t see the mountain top. Then when you make it to the top, help someone else out of their “Challenger Deep.”


Use the stories of real-life athletes, most of who were among the best in their fields- and their lessons on rising above adversity to inspire and motivate you and your teams to new heights. We have selected stories from many legends in their sport. You may be familiar with their names but maybe not the adversity they faced. After all it’s not that the best athletes don’t face adversity. It’s that the best athletes have learned how to rise above any challenge they face.

The good news is there is no right or wrong way on how to use this book. However, we do want to give you a few suggestions on how you can use it:

Read at your own pace and reflect.

1. You or your team can read one story a day for a month. Throughout the day remind yourself of the story you read and how you can apply it that day.

2. You or your team can read a story weekly. Have a weekly check in with your team and share how the weekly story came into play in your life.

3. Divide stories among team members and have them share their story with the team.

4. Read the quotes at the beginning and end of each story. See which ones resonate with your situation. Choose one or two as your mantras to get through the challenge you are currently facing.

5. Gift this book to someone who is going through a challenging time and could really benefit from the stories.

6. Use it to help someone else. When you get through something, you are often the person that may be able to help someone going through the same thing. At the end of some of the stories, we ask that you share with someone in your life that needs to hear it. Pay it forward. We depend on each other for motivation, encouragement, and as an example of what’s possible.

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Visit the Challenger Deep Resource Page at: www.ConfidentAthleteProgram.com/ChallengerDeep