Olympic Athlete Speakers

In advance of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games, to be held in London, interest in Olympic speakers is on the rise. "There's always an increase in the number of booking inquiries in an Olympic year leading up to the Games," says Alex Alton, vice president of New York City-based IMG Speakers. "Demand is especially high for gold medal winners and legendary Olympians. Whether it's for an Olympic-themed meeting, on-site hospitality or a post-games corporate event, we expect the trend to continue throughout 2012."

Groups typically seek out high-energy speakers who can share their experiences in goal setting and overcoming adversity. "Audiences want to be inspired and hear about the dedication, perseverance and other qualities it takes to become a champion," notes Alton.

Following are some Olympic speakers who take the gold when it comes to motivating their audiences.

Dr. Dot Richardson (703) 684-0555; washingtonspeakers.com
Video: bit.ly/rbKtVo

Olympic career. As a child, Dot Richardson wanted to be an astronaut, a singer, an actress and a doctor. A love of softball diverted her attentions enough to add star athlete to the list, but then she did pursue medical school and is now an orthopedic surgeon.

At the Atlanta Games in 1996, the year softball debuted, Richardson -- captain of the United States team -- hit the game-winning home run that earned the U.S. the first gold medal in softball history. She returned home to finish her orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Southern California.

Richardson brought home another gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, when the U.S. beat Japan in the finals. She currently is the director and medical director of The National Training Center in Orlando.

Speaking angle. During a time when women where limited to "women's sports," Richardson never allowed anyone to tell her she couldn't do something just because she was a woman. In her presentation, "Live Up to Your Dreams," she shares how she made her goals come true, and how others can, too. She also talks about how to identify dreams, maximize talents, be a team player and grasp the true meaning of success.

Verbatim. "It's amazing how you learn so much about your character in defeat."

Josh Davis (210) 494-9671; joshdavis.com
Video: bit.ly/pLwKK7

Olympic career. Josh Davis swam to success at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, where he was the only man to win three gold medals. Four years later, he led the United States Swim Team to the Summer Games in Sydney, Australia, and took home two silver medals.

Speaking angle. As a motivational speaker, Davis' presentations include "7 Habits of Highly Effective (Corporate) Athletes," "Leadership: Making Everybody on the Team a Captain," and "Preparing to Win and Performing Under Pressure." His angle is helping everyone develop an Olympic attitude of discipline, pride and teamwork. He speaks about having the right motivation to reach your peak performance, as well as motivating others in your group to achieve maximum effectiveness.  

Verbatim. "It is so great when we can work together, because it brings out the best in each of us, and that's so true in the corporate environment. There are a lot of people depending on you, and you're depending on them. Use that synergy to bring out the best in everyone."

 

Julie Foudy (212) 774-6735; imgspeakers.com
Video: bit.ly/mT2bEA

Olympic career. Julie Foudy is a soccer star with three Olympic medals and two World Cup Championships under her belt. As a player with the U.S. soccer team, she brought home the gold from the 1996 and 2004 Olympic Games and silver from the 2000 Sydney Olympics. In all, she served for 17 years on the U.S. Women's National Team for soccer, retiring as captain. ESPN and ABC featured her as the lead broadcaster of ESPN's coverage of the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup.

Speaking angle. Foudy frequently talks about overcoming obstacles, both on and off the field. For leadership-themed presentations, she shares what she's learned about being an effective leader and the importance of teamwork and motivation.

Verbatim. "Sports gave me my voice.  The lessons an athlete learns on the field -- striving for goals, motivating others and problem solving -- translate into leadership skills the athlete can apply off the field."

Ruben Gonzalez (832) 689-8282; thelugeman.com
Video: bit.ly/5bGn56

Olympic career. Born in 1962, Ruben Gonzales began his luge career at age 21 and raced at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina (then still part of Yugoslavia). He last competed in the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, and has the distinction of being the first athlete to participate in four different Winter Games in four different decades.  

Speaking angle. "Becoming Unstoppable" is a funny, high-energy message about building confidence, banishing fear, and using mental imagery and "self talk" to achieve personal and professional goals.

Verbatim. "I always say motivation is like deodorant -- you need to constantly reapply it because it wears out. Inspiration is completely different. Inspiration comes from the inside. From your heart. From your soul. Inspiration doesn't wear out."

Michael Johnsonmichael
johnsonmotivation.com
Video: bit.ly/ovqJr8

Nadia Comaneci & Bart Conner (212) 774-6735; imgspeakers.com
Video: bit.ly/nY5DM4

Olympic career. Nadia Comaneci was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympics (on the uneven bars), back in 1976 at the Summer Games in Montreal. That year, she won a total of three gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal. She competed again in the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, where she won two gold and two silver medals.

Bart Conner is known as the only American, male or female, to win gold at every level of national and international competition. He won two gold medals and scored a perfect 10 on the parallel bars at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles. In 1986, the U.S. Gymnastics Federation recognized him as the most decorated gymnast in the history of gymnastics for the United States.

Comaneci and Conner combined their collective medals -- and the rest of their lives -- when they married in April 1996.

Speaking angle. Comaneci and Conner share their personal stories about how they became Olympic champions. Their presentations include "Keeping Your Balance in Life," "Paying Attention to Details," "How to Overcome Adversity," "How to Resist Complacency," "The Power of Teamwork" and "How to Set Appropriate Goals." In "Finding Your F.O.C.U.S.," the two Olympians emphasize the importance of:

• Finding something you are good at;
• Observing your mentors;
• Challenging yourself;
• Utilizing your resources, and
• Striving to make a difference.

Verbatim. "The thing we learned through our sport -- and what has helped us most in our business -- is to focus our attention on the things that really matter and cut out the distractions that don't."