Olympian Motivational Keynote Speakers

Shannon Miller is a top motivational speaker, women’s health expert, cancer survivor, and former Olympic Gymnast. She remains The Most Decorated American Gymnast in history. She is the only American to rank among the Top 10 All-Time gymnasts and is the only female athlete to be inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame twice. Shannon speaks professionally on the Gold Medal Mindset. Discussions include a focus on leadership, resilience, goal-setting, positive mental attitude, commitment to excellence and overcoming obstacles to audiences at corporations, organizations & universities across the country.

Fee Range: $15,000–$25,000
Travels From: FL

Dara Torres' inspiring story of competing in the Olympics at age 41 shows us all that no matter how big your dreams are, you're never too old to achieve them. Since her first international race at the age of 14, Dara Torres has proven that she is far from your average athlete. She is author of Age is Just a Number: Achieve Your Dreams at Any Stage in Your Life and Gold Medal Fitness: A Revolutionary Five Week Program, both of which made The New York Times best seller list.

Fee Range: $25,000–$32,000
Travels From: MA

Fee Range: $25,000–$37,500
Travels From: FL

Fee Range: Inquire
Travels From: MA

Fee Range: $20,000–$28,000
Travels From: CO

•At the age of eleven, she developed two rare neurological conditions, transverse myelitis and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, which left her in a vegetative coma for 4 years and unable to use her legs for nearly a decade •Won a Gold Medal and three Silver Medals in the London Paralympic Games for swimming as well as multiple World, American, and Pan American Records •On-air TV personality for ESPN, reporting for the X-Games, the Invictus Games, and SportsCenter, to name a few •Was a 2017 semi-finalist on ABC’s Dancing with the Stars, and has since made many more major media appearances, including on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and in People Magazine, among others

Fee Range: $15,000–$20,000
Travels From: MA

Michael Phelps has been making waves in the world of sports since he was young. He tied the record for the most medals at a single Olympics in the 2004 Athens Summer Olympic Games when he earned six gold medals and eight medals overall. Although he is young, Phelps has already had a lifetime of experiences—in the pool and out. He founded “Swim with the Stars”—the first ever Olympic Swimming Tour that travels the country to give kids the opportunity to learn from the best. He is also a national spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs. Phelps is youthful but intelligent, successful yet modest, and understands the importance of following a dream. 2018, Phelps revealed that he struggled with ADHD and depression and now works as a mental health advocate.

Fee Range: Inquire
Travels From: MD

Legendary sports icon, Olympic champion and Hall of Famer, philanthropist, bestselling author, television personality, ringside analyst and longtime face of Skechers’ popular Relaxed Fit collections, Sugar Ray Leonard has established a legacy that epitomizes boxing and invokes the reverence of a champion. Sugar Ray Leonard’s raw and uplifting memoir reveals in intimate detail for the first time the complex human who waged his own personal battle with depression, rage, addiction and greed, that lay behind the champion.

Fee Range: Inquire
Travels From: CA

As a young athlete, Ibtihaj struggled with the restrictions wearing a hijab imposed on the requisite sport uniforms, until she discovered fencing, where she finally felt she could be true to herself. She went on to attend Duke University, where she was a three-time All-American and the 2005 Junior Olympic Champion. A member of the U.S. National Fencing Team, Ibtihaj jousted her way into the history books at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro wearing her hijab, ultimately helping the women’s fencing team earn the bronze medal. As a stereotype-busting trailblazer and inspirational role model, she is an official sports ambassador, serving on the State Department’s Empowering Women and Girls Through Sport Initiative and talking with young women around the world about the importance of sports and education. Drawing from her triumphant journey and unwavering commitment to her authentic self, Ibtihaj inspires others to overcome any obstacle and pave their own unique path to success.

Fee Range: $18,750–$32,000
Travels From: CA

Fee Range: $200,000–$375,000
Travels From: TX

Millions of Americans remember Mike Eruzione as the captain of the US Hockey Team that beat the odds to win the Gold Medal at the 1980 Olympics. It was his decisive winning goal that beat the Soviet team and stunned the world. Dubbed the “Miracle on Ice," Walt Disney studios has adapted the story of that Olympic triumph over the Soviets into a feature length film, titled Miracle. Mike and his family founded Winthrop Charities is a 501(c)(3)non-profit organization that was founded in 2004. The foundations goals are to make a difference and aid the causes that are important in every community, continuing through the years to make an impact through education, athletics, community endeavors and families.

Fee Range: $18,500–$35,000
Travels From: MA

Three-time Olympic Gold Medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee has built one of the most illustrious athletic careers in the world of track & field. Her performance in the heptathlon and long jump in the 1984, 1988 and 1992 Summer Olympics, made her a legend. Jackie Joyner-Kersee has set over 18 athletic records, received over 24 recognition awards, is a successful businesswoman, respected community leader, and a dynamic motivational speaker who inspires audiences to go after their dreams with passion and commitment. Working with the 77-year-old Farm Foundation and the United States Department of Agriculture, Jackie has embarked upon a nationwide effort to enhance the comprehensive health of our nation’s communities through the promotion of healthy lifestyles.

Fee Range: $20,000–$45,000
Travels From: MO

Vince Poscente is a New York Times bestselling author of six books and has been an in-demand keynote speaker for over two decades. He is an Olympic competitor and inductee into the Speaker Halls of Fame in Canada and USA. His repertoire of keynotes deliver energy, humor and practical, take-home tools. He was rated by MPI/eSpeakers as the top ten motivational speakers in North America and Meetings & Conventions "Meeting Planners' favorite speaker."

Fee Range: $15,000–$25,000
Travels From: TX

Fee: $106,000
Travels From: GA

Apolo Anton Ohno became the best short-track skater in the United States in less than two years, when he began his career in 1995. At fourteen years of age, after training under Pat Wentland in Lake Placid for just six months, Ohno claimed his first overall title at the U.S. Championships. He is now a five-time Olympic medalist. At the podium, Ohno discusses his journey from a rambunctious and rule-breaking teenager to an Olympic gold medalist. His anecdotes are endearing and heart-felt, but also emphasize the importance of finding one’s path, committing to it, and reaping the benefits of hard work. Ohno recently claimed another title as season three champion of the ABC hit, "Dancing with the Stars." After ten weeks of competing with his partner, International Latin Youth Champion, Julianne Hough in dances such as the Cha Cha, Tango and Waltz, Ohno and Hough beat out former ‘N Sync member Joey Fatone and world female super middleweight boxing champion Laila Ali in the final Freestyle dance to bring home the gold.

Fee Range: Inquire
Travels From: WA

One of the most controversial athletes in the history of sports, Lance Armstrong overcame Stage 3 testicular cancer to win seven consecutive Tour de France races and raise over a half billion dollars for cancer research through his Livestrong foundation before he was stripped of his titles and banned from cycling for using performance-enhancing drugs. Now a successful early stage investor in health care start-ups, he also leads WEDU, his global content and media platform and hosts two popular podcasts. Embracing his past mistakes with an endurance athlete’s tenacious mindset of powering through pain, challenges, and adversity; Armstrong’s inspirational, no-holds-barred talks champion resilience, integrity, leadership, and the ability we all have to overcome challenges and rise up from defeat.

Fee Range: $45,000–$75,000
Travels From: TX

Fee Range: $7,500–$10,000

Arguably the most naturally gifted athlete the world has ever seen, Usain St Leo Bolt, created history at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio when he achieved the ‘Triple Triple’, three gold medals at three consecutive Olympic Games.  Usain’s journey to worldwide stardom started at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing where he won the 100m, 200m and 4x100m, all in world record times.  He followed this up with three gold medals in the same events at the 2012 Olympic Games in London to write his name in the history books as the world’s fastest man.  Then one day before his 30th birthday he completed the same triple at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio to cement his legacy as a legend in world sport.

Fee Range: $125,000–$300,000
Travels From: Intl

Fee Range: $15,000–$20,000

Fee Range: Inquire
Travels From: CA

Brandi Chastain has excelled for the past 20 years as being one of the most famous female soccer players in the world. Brandi became a part of history as she joined the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team and competed in the first World Championship. In 1996 she led the United States to a Gold Medal at the Centennial Olympic Games in Atlanta, a feat she repeated in 2004 in Athens, Greece. She has been featured around the world as a spokesperson for Nike, Volvo, Powerbar, Gallery Furniture and 24-Hour Fitness, among others. Brandi is also cofounder of the nonprofit BAWSI (Bay Area women’s sports initiative).

Fee Range: $30,000–$63,000
Travels From: CA

Fee Range: $13,000–$25,000
Travels From: NJ

Fee Range: $20,000–$25,000
Travels From: MA

Dominique Dawes is an Olympic Gold Medalist, three-time Olympian, brand ambassador and motivational speaker. She is the only American gymnast to medal at three different Olympic Games in the team competition and the first African-American gymnast to win an Olympic Gold medal. Dominique paved the way for other young African-American gymnasts to strive for Olympic glory, including the last two reigning Olympic All-Around Gold Medalist Simone Biles (2016) and Gabrielle Douglas (2012). At the 1996 Atlanta Games, Dominique became the first female African-American gymnast to win an individual medal, capturing bronze with her floor exercise performance, helping solidify her place in the USOC Hall of Fame.

Fee Range: $20,000–$30,000
Travels From: FL