9 top Summer Olympians take keynote speeches to new heights

As this year’s Olympic athletes compete for gold medals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, there are plenty of Olympians who can inspire spectators to pursue their own excellence.

Top Olympians know what it means to strive for excellence—and some of them have turned their experiences into inspiring keynotes that motivate nearly any audience to reach new heights of their own. Some of the top Olympians now serve as keynote speakers sharing their lessons on perseverance, teamwork, and overcoming adversity, including:

1. 

   Simone BilesAudiences may be interested in Biles, the most successful Olympic gymnast of all time, who again this year led the U.S. women’s gymnastics team to a gold medal at the Summer Olympics. She spoke about a variety of topics, including overcoming adversity, setting goals, and achieving success. She was also outspoken about the importance of mental health, especially for athletes, and shared her own experiences dealing with anxiety and depression.

2. 

   Michael PhelpsThe American swimmer, who is also the most decorated Olympic medalist (23), shared his experiences with dedication and perseverance, as well as his work to raise awareness of mental health issues.

3. Shannon MillerThe former USA Gymnastics star is now dedicated to advocating for health and wellness and is eager to share her message and platform to inspire others on their wellness journey.
4. Greg Loganis. Another famous American Olympian, this multi-gold medal-winning diving champion is also a fierce advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and HIV awareness.
5. Amy Van DykenThe six-time Olympic gold medalist has also become a spokesperson for people with disabilities. She took up swimming after being diagnosed with three types of asthma, which severely reduced her lung capacity, but overcame those challenges, and then suffered a devastating ATV accident that left her paralyzed from the waist down—but she was surprisingly walking with the help of a brace and walker a few months later. Her mantra is: “Who are you to tell me what I can and can’t do?”
6. Alison SchmidtThe star swimmer has won eight Olympic medals in total and set an Olympic record with her gold medal in the 200m freestyle. Her themes include health, empowerment and personal growth.

7. 

   Kerry Walsh JenningsThe beach volleyball star won three gold medals with her partner Misty May-Treanor at the 2004, 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. She now heads up corporate and private events and gives motivational keynote speeches.

8. Meb KeflezighiThe U.S. Olympian is an American distance runner who came to the United States as one of 10 children of an Eritrean refugee family and is now a brand ambassador for brands such as Sketchers, Sony and Oakley Inc. His inspiring story of achieving the American dream made his keynote speech very uplifting and motivational.

9. 

   Edwin MosesAnother U.S. track and field Olympian, Moses also received an honorary Doctor of Science degree from the University of Massachusetts for his work using sports as a tool for social change. He specializes in motivational keynote speeches and presentations.

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