Winner Takes Gold - Author Eloise Smith

Winner Takes Gold...

Pearl is determined to win gold at the Paris gymnastics championships — it's her dream, and it's what her mum would have wanted. But the path to the podium isn’t easy. Elite training is brutal. The pressure is intense. And not everyone plays fair.

With her best friend Ryan and the fierce Jada-Rae by her side, Pearl pushes through sore muscles, ice baths, and moments of self-doubt. But when rivalry turns to sabotage, Pearl must decide what matters most: glory, safety, or friendship.

Winner Takes Gold is a gripping, empowering story about resilience, teamwork and finding your own version of success. Perfect for fans of Gym Stars and The Fearless Five.

Why we — and schools — love it:

• A powerful story about ambition, ethics, and emotional resilience in competitive sports.
• Promotes body awareness, teamwork and mental health in high-performance settings.
• Ideal for class discussions on perseverance, peer pressure and self-belief.

Written by Eloise Smith | Published by Chicken House | Paperback | 320 pages | Ages 8+