Earl Young, Olympic sprinter, businessman, and leukemia survivor, releases his new book, Gold and Grace: The Higher Purpose of an Olympic Champion. The book recounts his remarkable journey and encourages readers to serve others.
Additionally, Young won Olympic gold in 1960 at age 19 and appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated. He later pursued a global career in finance, including oil, gas, and precious metals, while also serving as director of the Corporate Council of Africa.
Young has been active with the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Alumni Association, helping create a relief fund for Olympians in need. His story took a dramatic turn at age 71 when he was diagnosed with leukemia. Doctors estimated only three months to live without a blood stem cell transplant.
Miraculously, a donor from Germany, 5,000 miles away, was a perfect match and saved Young’s life. His recovery inspired the creation of Earl Young’s Team, a nonprofit recruiting blood stem cell donors nationwide. To date, the organization has registered tens of thousands of donors and enabled more than 145 life-saving matches.
Young writes in his book, “The best life is one that uses God-given gifts to serve a cause greater than ourselves.” Gold and Grace emphasizes that true greatness comes from character, discipline, and humility, not podium finishes.
Furthermore, the book includes “Stepping Up Stories of Stem Cell Donors and Recipients.” One story highlights Campbell Fearing, who survived leukemia thanks to a donor registered at his college. “If you want to live a life full of impact and purpose, [donor registration] is something you should do,” Campbell says.
Gold and Grace is published by Leafwood Publishers, an imprint of Abilene Christian University Press. It will be available in softcover and Kindle formats starting Tuesday, October 7, 2025. Pre-orders are available on Amazon.
