In the world of sports, the journey to greatness is often paved with challenges, setbacks, and remarkable comebacks. The following athlete motivational speakers, like all sports motivational speakers generally, exemplify the power of resilience, determination, and the human spirit. From overcoming life-altering injuries and medical conditions to achieving world champion status and inspiring millions, these athletes have transcended their sports to become powerful motivational speakers.
Each of their stories offers invaluable lessons on facing adversity, reinventing oneself, and persevering against all odds. Meet the athletes whose incredible journeys are not only awe-inspiring but also deeply transformative, as they share their insights and experiences with audiences worldwide.
Joe Theissman : World Champion Quarterback, Broadcaster and Entrepreneur
Losing his successful football career at 35 to a serious injury, Joe Theismann learned firsthand how to think, analyze and reinvent in the face of adversity and change.
Victoria Arlen: Paralympics Champion & ESPN Personality
Victoria Arlen shares her courageous and miraculous story of recovery after falling into a mysterious vegetative state at age eleven and how she broke free, overcoming the odds and never giving up hope, eventually living a full and inspiring life.
Melissa Stockwell: 2x Paralympian (2008, 2016), Bronze medalist, Dare2tri co-founder, Keynote Speaker
At first glance Melissa Stockwell may appear to be the quintessential Midwestern-All-American-girl, but she is far more. She is an American war hero who has triumphed over personal tragedy to achieve greatness, World Champion status, and she has dedicated her life to chasing remarkable accomplishments while giving back to others, particularly those who face challenges similar to her own.
Jeremy Poincenot: World Blind Golf Champion
When he was 19 years old, Jeremy Poincenot began losing his vision and rapidly became legally blind. Already a talented golfer, Poincenot was afraid that he wouldn’t be able to continue playing the sport he loved. But one year later, with a little encouragement from his mother, Poincenot went to the driving range. With that, he resolved to compete again. Poincenot, along with his father as his coach, caddy and guide, set off on a journey to play in the World Blind Golf Championship. The pair did more than play: they won.
Vince Poscente: Olympian & New York Times Best-Selling Author
Ensure your people do what the competition is not willing to do with Vince Poscente’s approach to “Full Speed Ahead and Setbacks to Breakthroughs.” With his signature wit, wisdom, and business credentials (New York Times bestselling author, Olympian, and Hall of Fame speaker in Canada and the USA) Vince ignites the potential in all of us. Rated by MPI as the top ten motivational speakers in North America and Meetings & Conventions “Meeting Planners’ favorite speaker,” Vince Poscente is an unforgettable opening or closing keynote speaker with practical tools for everyone in the audience to execute with excellence.
Julia Landauer: Champion Racecar Driver
A two-time champion NASCAR driver, Julia Landauer shares emotional and fact-based observations and proposes various habits and mindsets that can help you succeed.
Emmitt Smith: Former NFL Athlete, Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer, & All-Time Leading Rusher
An American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 15 seasons, 13 as a member of the Dallas Cowboys and 2 seasons with the Arizona Cardinals. Among other accolades, he is the league’s all-time leading rusher.
George Foreman: Former Professional Boxer | Entrepreneur | Minister | Author
An American former professional boxer, entrepreneur, minister, and author. In boxing, he competed between 1967 and 1997 and was nicknamed “Big George”. He is a two-time world heavyweight champion and an Olympic gold medalist. As an entrepreneur, he is known for the George Foreman Grill.
Erin Andrews: Emmy-Nominated Sportscaster & TV Personality
An American sportscaster and television personality. She rose to prominence as a correspondent on the American cable sports channel ESPN after joining the network in 2004. She later joined Fox Sports in 2012 and has since become the lead sideline reporter for the network’s NFL broadcasting team. In 2010, she also gained further recognition from placing third on the tenth season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars and eventually co-hosted the show from 2014 to 2019 with Tom Bergeron.
Mia Hamm: Former Soccer Player, Olympic Gold Medalist, Coach, Founder of the Mia Hamm Foundation
An American former professional soccer player, two-time Olympic gold medalist and two-time FIFA Women’s World Cup champion. Hailed as a soccer icon, she played as a forward for the United States national team from 1987 to 2004. Hamm was the face of the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA), the first professional women’s soccer league in the United States, where she played for the Washington Freedom from 2001 to 2003. She played college soccer for the North Carolina Tar Heels and helped the team win four NCAA Division I Women’s Soccer Championship titles.
Jeff Salzenstein: 2-Time All-American, National Champion, & Team Captain Stanford University | Former Top 100 World Ranked Tennis Player | Success Coach | Speaker | Trainer | Entrepreneur | Zone of Excellence
Jeff Salzenstein, a 2-time Stanford All-American, national champion, team captain, and former top 100 world-ranked tennis player, embodies the essence of peak performance and holistic well-being. With an illustrious pro tennis career spanning from competing in a packed U.S. Open stadium to coaching transformative journeys, Jeff is a revered success coach, speaker, and trainer.
Terrell Davis: Former Running Back and NFL Anchor
Terrell Davis is a top competitiveness keynote speaker, former NFL running back, and professional football analyst. Davis played college football at Long Beach State University and the University of Georgia. During the 1993 season at the University of Georgia, he became the top running back and rushed for 824 yards on 167 carries. He was drafted by Denver Broncos head coach Mike Shanahan as Denver’s sixth-round pick out of the University of Georgia in 1995.
Mario Andretti: Keynote Speaker: Retired Italian-American World Champion Racing Driver
As one of the most versatile drivers of all-time, Mario Andretti is a name synonymous with racing. Andretti is one of only two men to win races in NASCAR, Formula One, IndyCar, and World Sportscar Championship. He was champion of Formula One in 1978 and is the last American to ever win a race on that circuit. Andretti was a four-time IndyCar champion and winner of the 1969 Indianapolis 500. Even though he spent limited time in NASCAR, he won the 1967 Daytona 500. Andretti won a major race in five different decades, which no one else has ever accomplished. He was born in Italy, but immigrated with his family and settled in Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania as a child. He has been a successful patriarch, with two sons, a nephew, and a grandson all becoming drivers. Andretti has multiple business ventures, including ownership of gas stations, car washes, and a car dealership.
Tim Tebow: Former NFL Quarterback & Heisman Trophy Winner
Tim Tebow is a two-time national champion, Heisman Trophy winner, College Football Hall of Fame Inductee, first-round NFL draft pick, and a former professional baseball player. The five-time New York Times best-selling author, speaker, and football analyst is most passionate about his work with the Tim Tebow Foundation (TTF), whose mission is to bring faith, hope, and love to those needing a brighter day in their darkest hour of need. The Tim Tebow Foundation is currently fighting for people who can’t fight for themselves in over 70 countries and counting through 4 primary ministry focuses with 16 initiatives. Tim is married to Demi-Leigh Tebow, a speaker, influencer, entrepreneur, and Miss Universe 2017. Tim and Demi live in Jacksonville, Florida, with their three dogs, Chunk, Kobe, and Paris.
Victoria Garrick Brown: Founder of The Hidden Opponent, Host of Real Pod, Public Speaker, Content Creator, Mental Health Advocate
Victoria Garrick Browne is a TED Talk speaker, mental health advocate, podcast host, and former Division I Athlete who has amassed 2M+ followers across social media where she’s known for her unfiltered campaign, #RealPost.
