100 sports 100 women 100 inspiring athletes.

• Position: Athletic Arena

SUPERWOMEN: 100 Women-100 Sports is an eye-opening coffee table book that inspired a subsequent photo exhibition that shows female athletes at their best: passionate, determined, and strong. Each of these fearless females offers a unique tale of triumph, excellence, and courage.

Consider the sheer willpower that infused Jackie Joyner-Kersee's performance at the 1996 Olympic Games. Recognize the glorious confidence displayed by Janet Guthrie when she pulled up at the starting line of the Indianapolis 500 in 1977. Spend a moment appreciating the perseverance of Rachael Scdoris, a top competitor in sled-dog racing despite being legally blind. The exhibition showcases sports superstars viewers will recognize immediately, as well as athletes who may not be so familiar--but all are exceptional and extraordinary individuals.

These portraits, as well as the candid and personal interview text that accompanies each, are the work of photographer Jodi Buren. "I wanted to document the beauty of the woman athlete--to remove her helmet and focus on her spirit," she says. Buren explains how she sought to find the person inside the athlete, to discover that particular individual's thoughts, dreams, goals, and desires. She found herself inspired by this group, by their strength, energy, and sheer love of the game. Her ultimate objective, she emphasizes, was to give girls across America an opportunity to learn about sports and the women who compete in them.

"It was an incredible journey. With each shoot, the momentum and excitement for the project escalated," Buren recalls. "The athletes were eager to share their stories and seemed honored to be recognized. I was an audience of one and, as I sat on track fields, in parking lots, and in kitchens around the country, I laughed and cried--and was forever changed. I saw what sports can do for women. I [witnessed] this over and over again. [They] were confident, driven, powerful, determined ... in control of their bodies and their lives. I am in awe of these women. I am inspired and humbled by them.

"I left each interview wanting to achieve more, wanting to be a better person, wife, mother, photographer. It was no longer just about sport: it was about being a woman, about giving all that you can, about fulfilling your dreams."

While the photographs are appreciated for their artistry and originality, "SuperWomen" also is an educational tool and a platform for women's athletics. Audiences are introduced not only to...