Olympians of Past and Present Ignite Enthusiasm as Event Speakers

“Olympics coverage helped US network NBC beat its rivals by the biggest ever ratings margin last week – and at one point it had more viewers than the next 12 channels combined.” – according to a Guardian UK article last week.

Although the Olympics are over, you can capture the enthusiasm at your next event with one of several athletes who are on – or are hitting – the speaking circuit. Among the most popular candidates:

• Dara Torres – Winner of twelve Olympic medals, she shattered expectations by making her record fifth US Olympic team – and became the oldest female swimmer, at age 41, to make the Olympic team. Competing against girls half her age, she was virtually unstoppable, breaking the US record in the 50m Freestyle multiple times on her way to Beijing. At the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Dara took Silver in the 50m Freestyle, 4x100m Freestyle relay and 4×100 Medley relay.
• Jason Lezak – Jason has raced with some of the best swimmers of all time, including the infamous relays at the 2008 Beijing Olympics when Jason tore through the water not once, but twice, to secure 8 gold medals for teammate Michael Phelps. His achievements have given him a confidence and a winning record that can’t be questioned. In 2008, the oldest man on the U.S. swim team at age 32, and tri-captain, Jason anchored the U.S. men’s 400-meter freestyle relay and 400-meter medley relay teams to 2 gold medals. Expect to see his leg, the fastest 100 relay split (46.06), for decades to come
  in sports highlight films.
• Nastia Liukin (Appearances Only) – As a Senior International Elite gymnast, Nastia is a five-time Olympic Medalist, four-time World Champion, nine-time World medalist, four-time US National Champion and has won multiple Pacific Rim and American Cup titles. After sustaining an ankle injury in 2006, Nastia’s career was put on hold as she underwent surgery. Nastia came back stronger than ever in 2007 and joined 1996 Olympic Champion Shannon Miller as the most decorated American gymnast in World Championship competition. Liukin’s first meet of the 2008 season was the American Cup in New York City, where she defeated 2007 winner Shawn Johnson to regain her title. She posted the highest score of the meet, a 16.6 on the uneven bars. At the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, Nastia led the USA Women’s Gymnastics team to a Silver scoring the highest score of the competition on the uneven bars, a 16.9. Two days later, Nastia became only the third American woman to claim the coveted all-around title, joining her training partner at her Texas gym, Carly Patterson, from 2004 and Mary Lou Retton from 1984.
• Mark Spitz – Considered the Greatest Olympic athlete of all-time, Mark Spitz is synonymous with excellence. He is world renown and one of the most recognized faces in the World. In 2000, Mark was voted Athlete of the Century in water sports and one of the six greatest Olympians ever by Sports Illustrated. Recently, the International Olympic Committee selected Mark as one of its five athletes of the Century. Mark is a highly requested public speaker throughout the World and will continue to be a very hot commodity as long as there is an Olympic Games somewhere in the world or the desire by a group to hear from one of the greatest living legends of all-time in sports.
• Bruce Jenner – Bruce Jenner’s “Rule for Life” is exactly the same as it was when he became the “World’s Greatest Athlete” by winning the gold medal in the 1976 Olympic Decathlon. The years since his athletic achievements made him world famous, Bruce has become a highly respected motivational speaker, sports commentator, entrepreneur, commercial spokesperson, television personality, actor, producer and author. A devoted father and husband, Bruce is also a loyal supporter of many non profit and charitable organizations and serves on numerous advisory boards such as the Special Olympics, where he serves on the Council of Champions, The National Dyslexia Research Foundation, and an avid supporter of Athletes and Entertainers for Kids. Bruce and his wife Kris serve on the board of The Dream Foundation, an organization that grants wishes to terminally ill adults, and C.O.A.C.H. for Kids, a mobile medical unit providing quality health care to under privileged families throughout Los Angeles.

For more information about fees and availability for these and other Olympic athletes to speak or appear at your next event, contact The Speakers Group at (615) 866-2665 or at https://www.thespeakersgroup.com.

NOTE: Watch Nastia Liukin on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on August 26 at 11:35 pm Eastern!