Professional Athletes Speakers

Alicia Sacramone

Alicia Sacramone was a member of the Silver Medal winning US Olympic team in 2008 and has won seven career World Championships medals, including two golds, three silvers and two bronzes, the second highest career tally in US history. She was named USA Gymnastics' Sportswoman of the Year three consecutive times (2005-07). At the 2007 World Championships, she helped the US women win just...

Allan Houston

As a man of faith and strong family values, Allan Houston lives his life with a determination to utilize his success as a professional athlete to help others while continuing to grow a variety of entrepreneurial interests. Recently appointed Assistant General Manager for the New York Knicks, Allan has been an international ambassador for the NBA, spokesperson...

Andre Agassi

After turning pro at the age of 16, tennis prodigy ANDRE AGASSI rose to international fame, earning 60 men’s singles titles, including eight Grand Slam singles championships, over a 20-year career. A former World No. 1 player, Agassi is the only male player ever to win all four Grand Slam titles and an Olympic gold medal. He was also a member of three winning Davis Cup...

Andy Murray

Andy Murray is a Grand Slam champion professional tennis player winning the 2012 US Open Men's Singles Championship. It was the first Grand Slam title for Murray as well as the first Grand Slam for Great Britain in over 75 years. One month prior, at the 2012 London Olympics, Murray defied the odds and defeated world number one Roger Federer to claim the Gold Medal for his home country. In the...

Antonio Pierce

Antonio Pierce, a former New York Giants’ Super Bowl champion linebacker is a current NFL analyst for ESPN. The 2006 Pro Bowler appears on NFL Live, SportsCenter, ESPNEWS, and 1050 ESPN New York, and provides weekly analysis on ESPNNewYork.com, ESPN’s home for New York sports news and information. Pierce captained the Giants defense for five seasons, including 2007 when he helped anchor...

Bode Miller

Bode Miller is regarded as one of the best ski racers of all time. Bode recently won a Gold, Silver and Bronze medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics. Combined with his two Silver Medals in the 2002 Winter Olympics, Bode is the most decorated US Olympic skier in history, and his five medals are across four different alpine skiing events. Bode has won two overall World Cup titles (2005 & 2008)...

Carmelo Anthony

At the 2012 London Olympics, Carmelo Anthony joined the elite of US Basketball to win their second consecutive Gold Medal at the summer games. As one of basketball’s most valuable players and a five time All-Star, Anthony is no stranger to the discipline of building a solid foundation to achieve lasting success. During a time when the best high school basketball players were skipping college...

Chris Bosh

CHRIS BOSH is an NBA World Champion, winning the title as a member of the Miami HEAT in 2012. A power forward from Hutchins, TX, Bosh was drafted fourth overall in the 2003 NBA Draft by the Toronto Raptors where he became the all-time leading scorer during his tenure. Bosh is a 7-time All-Star and a member of the 2008 Men’s USA Olympic Gold Medal Team. After seven seasons in Toronto and being...

David Beckham

After attending the Bobby Charlton Soccer School aged 11, impressing coaches with his natural ability (and becoming skills champion for his age group), David’s future was effectively secured when he signed for Manchester United as a trainee in 1991. Following a short spell on loan at Preston North End, David fulfilled a dream when he made his Premier League debut with Manchester United...

David Feherty

David Feherty was born in the seaside town of Bangor in Northern Ireland. He grew up with aspirations to become an opera singer, until he discovered he had the knack for hitting a golf ball. He jokes about his career change, "I was always interested in music from a very early age. But when I turned pro at age 17, I haven't sung a note since. Now, I only sing to punish my children."

Derek Jeter

Ten-time All-Star Derek Jeter is this generation’s baseball hero. With his exciting style and flair for the dramatic, the five-time World Series champion has become one of the most popular athletes today. Since winning the American League Rookie of the Year award in 1996 and leading the Yankees to their first championship since 1978, Derek has become a permanent fixture in the post-season...

Desmond Howard

Desmond Howard joined ESPN in 2005 as a college football analyst. You can currently see him every Saturday on ESPN’s award winning show College Gameday. The 1991 Heisman Trophy winner and Super Bowl XXXI MVP joined the network a few years after his remarkable professional football career. Howard’s broadcast career began in 2003 at Fox Sports, for which he was a contributor to Best Damn Sports...

Dwyane Wade

After growing up in Chicago and attending Marquette University, Dwayne Wade was the 5th overall NBA draft pick in 2003. In his first year with the Miami Heat, Dwayne was selected to the NBA All-Rookie First Team. Dwayne went on to lead the Heat to their first NBA Championship in franchise history in 2006 and was named the NBA Finals MVP. Dwayne and the Heat won their second NBA World...

Earvin Magic Johnson

Earvin Johnson, Jr. may best be known for his winning ways during his illustrious 13-year NBA career, but today the basketball legend directs his efforts toward his growing business and philanthropic empire, Magic Johnson Enterprises (MJE).

Francois Pienaar

Captain of the Victorious 1995 country-unifying Rugby World Cup Team - The Springboks, Francois Pienaar is a remarkable athlete, trained lawyer and an ambassador for multi-racial sports and civil rights. He reached the highest peak in rugby union when he captained his country, South Africa, to World Cup victory in 1995. He was portrayed by Matt Damon in Clint Eastwood's blockbuster Invictus...

Gabby Reece

Dubbed one of the world’s sexiest athletes, former Women’s Beach Volleyball League star and fitness icon GABRIELLE REECE, also known as “Gabby,” possesses a look that conveys both athleticism and feminine beauty. Her commanding presence, passion for healthy living, and fitness expertise makes her a popular public speaker on the subjects of health and wellness. An avid proponent of...

Georges St-Pierre

Often referred to by experts and fans alike as one of the best pound-for-pound MMA fighters today, GEORGES "RUSH" ST-PIERRE, also known as “GSP,” is a Canadian professional mixed martial artist and UFC world champion who holds black belts in both Kyokushin karate and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. As a child St. Pierre was bullied for years by older schoolmates leading his father to introduced...

Greg Norman

Greg Norman was born February 10,1955. He decided to give golf a try as a 15-year-old and just two years later, at his first day at Virginia Golf Club in Brisbane, Australia, he was a scratch player. He has won 86 professional events around the world, including two British Open Championships and 20 U.S. PGA Tour titles. The culmination of an astounding golfing career came Nov. 11, 2001, when..

Jack Nicklaus

No name is more synonymous with greatness in the sport of golf than the name Jack Nicklaus, and no single person has changed the face of the sport more than Jack Nicklaus – the player, the designer, the philanthropist, and the good-will ambassador. Jack, 70, has been named “Golfer of the Century” or “Golfer of the Millennium” by almost every major golf publication in the world. He was...

Jim Abbott

Born, Sept.19, 1967, in Flint, Michigan without a right hand. He was an All-America hurler at Michigan; won Sullivan Award in 1987; threw 4-0 no-hitter for NY Yankees vs. Cleveland (September 4, 1993). Jim played for 10 seasons on four different teams and ended his big league playing career in 1999. Today, in addition to being a Pitching Instructor for the Los Angeles Angels, Jim Abbott is a...

Julia Mancuso

Julia Mancuso is the most decorated US female Olympic skier in history with two Silver Medals at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics to go with her Gold Medal in Torino. Mancuso also has three World Championships medals. Julia is a five event skier (Downhill, SuperG, Giant Slalom, Slalom and Combined) and has podiumed at the international level in four of her five events. Julia has 10 National...

Kenny Smith

Two-Time World Champion and 10-Year NBA veteran, Kenny "The Jet" Smith is currently an NBA studio analyst as part of TNT's Emmy Award-winning studio show Inside the NBA, with host Ernie Johnson and analyst Charles Barkley. Kenny also brings his insight into the college game through Turner and CBS' joint coverage of the 2011 NCAA Basketball Tournament...

Laila Ali

Laila Ali is a world-class athlete, fitness & wellness expert, cooking enthusiast, founder of the Laila Ali Lifestyle Brand and mother of two toddler-aged children. The daughter of the legendary Muhammad Ali, Laila is also a four-time undefeated world boxing champion, whose stellar record includes 24 wins (21 of which were "knockouts") and zero losses. In addition to her latest work as a...

Laird Hamilton

Laird Hamilton is known as the guiding genius of crossover board sports, and he is truly amazing in the water. As the son of 60's surfing legend Bill Hamilton, hailed as the world’s greatest big-wave surfer, Laird grew up around the last of the original big-wave pioneers on Oahu’s NorthShore, and is himself a throw back to the time when surfers prided themselves on being all-around watermen...

Marcellus Wiley

Marcellus Wiley is a sports broadcaster and radio host for ESPN and ESPN LA Radio. Wiley joined ESPN in 2007 as an in-studio NFL analyst. Since then, his duties at ESPN have expanded across all platforms. In January of 2011, Wiley was named co-host of "Max & Marcellus" on 710AM ESPN Radio in Los Angeles. In 2010, the animated and charismatic Wiley was named co-host of the hit show Winners...

Mark Allen

The Ironman Triathlon held on the Big Island of Hawaii, is the most difficult one-day sporting event in the world. It starts with a 2.4-mile ocean swim, followed by 112 miles of cycling, and then finishes with a 26.2-mile marathon. For most of the 1500 men and women who compete in the Ironman crossing the finish line amounts to a victory. Mark had a different destiny. His first six attempts...

Mark Herzlich

"Two years ago, I was told I might never walk again,' Mark typed to his loyal followers on Twitter. "Just walked off the plane in Indy to play in the Super Bowl. Take that cancer!" One week later, Mark Herzlich found himself celebrating at midfield with his teammates as part of the 2011 Super Bowl champion New York Giants...

Matt Ryan

Following the tumultuous departure of quarterback Michael Vick in 2007, the Atlanta Falcons faced the harsh reality of a difficult season that was only further marred by the sudden mid season departure of their Head Coach. With a 4-12 record, the franchise was in despair and a long battle to reestablish themselves as a competitive NFL team was certain...

Oscar de la Hoya

The only fighter to win eleven world titles in six different weight classes, and as CEO of Golden Boy Promotions the first Hispanic to own a national boxing promotional firm, Oscar de la Hoya is one of the most charismatic and beloved figures in the history of the sport. From the podium he recounts the thrilling story of his journey from a scrawny, bullied child in East Los Angeles to Olympic...

Robert Griffin III

ROBERT GRIFFIN III (nicknamed "RG3") is the starting Quarterback for the Washington Redskins and the 2011 Heisman Trophy Winner. Griffin became the first rookie quarterback to start the year as the "NFC Offensive Player of the Week." The #2 overall pick by the Washington Redskins in the 2012 draft, Griffin capped a very impressive college career both as a scholar and as an athlete by...

Roy Halladay

With his trade to Philadelphia before the 2010 season, Roy is now known as one of the best pitchers in the National League. His ability to keep his pitches down and work both sides of the plate has proved to be the perfect recipe for his success...

Ryan Howard

As the fastest player in history to reach 100 home runs and 200 home runs, Ryan has taken the game by storm in six seasons in the majors and quickly making a name for himself as one of the most prodigious power hitters of this generation. Howard’s career started with a bang when he was named NL Rookie of the Year in 2005. He capped off a stellar year in 2006 with the National League MVP...

Ryan Lochte

It's no secret in the swimming community that Ryan Lochte is a bonafide free spirit. Between appearing at the Golden Goggle Awards in an all-white leisure suit and posing on the podium with a blinged-out grill, Lochte makes it clear that he's out to have a good time. In Lochte's case, however, there's no point in playing hard if you don't precede it with some serious hard work. Ryan has 11...

Sanya Richards-Ross

At the 2012 London Olympic Games, Sanya was showcased her tireless work ethic by collecting two more Gold Medals (400m, 4x400m Relay) to add to an outstanding year that has already seen her win the 400m Indoor World Championship. Prior to Sanya’s 2012 campaign, she bounced back from an injury shortened 2010 to claim her record fifth career World Championship Gold Medal by winning the 4x400...

Shaun White

Shaun White is many things but most notably he's driven. He holds many of the highest accolades within snowboarding and skateboarding. An X Games double threat with medals in both snowboarding and skateboarding, as well as gold medals from the 2006 and 2010 Winter Olympics, Shaun possesses insane skills and instantly recognizable looks. This amazing combination has made him one of the most...

Sidney Crosby

Expectations were high for this #1 overall draft pick when he was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2005 and quickly dubbed "The Next One," following legendary player Wayne Gretzky. Crosby did not disappoint when he finished sixth in the NHL in scoring in his rookie year...

Stefanie Graf

Tennis champion Stefanie Graf, winner of 22 Grand Slam singles titles, remains the only player to win Wimbledon, the French Open, the US Open and the Australian Open at least four times. In a career spanning 17 years, Graf won 107 singles titles and is the first—and still only— woman player to achieve the "Golden Slam" by winning all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Olympic gold medal...

Summer Sanders

Summer Sanders was the most decorated swimmer at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, winning two gold, a silver and a bronze medal. Since then, Summer has remained in the spotlight as a primetime TV sports commentator and a media celebrity. In her compelling memoir, Champions Are Raised, Not Born: How My Parents Made Me a Success, Summer discusses what gave her the drive to consistently give all...

Tony Gonzalez

Tony Gonzalez's jersey already hangs in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after he became the first tight end to lead the NFL in receptions and soon enough, like his jersey, he will be enshrined...

Tony Hawk

Tony Hawk was nine years old when his brother changed his life by giving him a blue fiberglass Bahne skateboard. By twelve, Tony was sponsored by Dogtown Skateboards, by fourteen he was pro, and by age sixteen Tony Hawk was widely considered the best skateboarder in the world. In the ensuing 17 years, Hawk entered an estimated 103 pro contests. He won 73 of them, and placed second in 19. By far...

Tony Parker

For a boy who was born in Belgium and grew up in France, few expected him to become a NBA player, let alone an All-Star, three-time NBA Champion and Finals MVP. Originally with hopes of becoming a world renowned soccer player, Tony Parker followed in the footsteps of his father, a former pro basketball player in Europe...

Tony Romo

Tony Romo's work ethic and humility have kept him grounded throughout his rise to stardom in one of sport's most distinguished positions, the quarterback of "America's Team": the Dallas Cowboys. Despite showing great athletic talent and having a stellar collegiate career, Tony came into the NFL undrafted as a backup quarterback. Making the most of the situation, Tony positioned himself to be...

Warren Sapp

Seven-time Pro Bowler, and Hall of Famer, Warren Sapp is an NFL Analyst for the NFL NETWORK. The charismatic and loquacious Sapp is featured as a studio analyst on NFL Network's Game Day Morning and is regular contributor on NFL Total Access. One of the best defensive linemen in NFL history, Sapp has been intimidating opposing quarterbacks and lineman since the first time he put pads on...

Warrick Dunn

NFL running back Warrick Dunn is truly one of the good guys in the world of sports. And in his revealing autobiography, “Running for My Life”, Dunn tells his incredibly moving, inspirational story of courage and determination in the face of devastating loss, a story that makes his achievements on the football field that much more amazing. Warrick Dunn and his five brothers and sisters all...

Scott Hamilton

The most recognized male figure skating star in the world, Scott Hamilton has won 70 titles, awards and honors including an Emmy Award nomination, induction into the United States Olympic Hall of Fame and a privileged member of the World Figure Skating Hall of Fame. He captured the attention of the world over 25 years ago with his Olympic Gold medal performances in Sarajevo and...

Top Athletes Speakers