JEFF ADAMS

Olympian, Paralympian and World Champion

Jeff Adams is no stranger to overcoming challenges.

He survived childhood cancer, but the radiation treatment that ultimately saved his life caused burns on his spinal cord that permanently damaged it.

He started using a wheelchair at a young age, but his love of competitive sport helped him turn his wheelchair into the vehicle for a journey of success. Adams is a three-time Olympian, five-time Paralympian, and six-time World Champion. He has acted in television commercials, has been a global spokesperson for multinational corporations, and regularly works as a journalist and colour commentator, recently hosting the CBC radio show The Current. He's served as Chair of the Accessibility Committee for the Toronto 2008 Olympic Bid Committee, and as the Chair for the Ontarians with Disability Advisory Council.

In 2002, Adams climbed the 1776 stairs of the CN Tower in a specially designed wheelchair for an awareness event called “Step Up to Change”.

The event was designed to highlight the need for accessibility, but went much further than that. By climbing the stairs in a wheelchair, Adams demonstrated in a tangible way, that when faced with what seems like an impossible task or an insurmountable barrier, having a plan, sticking to it, and taking it “one step at a time” is the best way to guarantee success.

Using compelling video footage of both the best and worst days of his athletic career, and through his intensely personal and compelling story, Adams shows his audiences how the power of focus can make a winner out of anybody. Adept at tailoring his message to seamlessly fit each audience, Adams focuses on methods people can use to win “gold medals” in every aspect of their life.

Adams’s message is pertinent to the business reality as it is to the daily lives of his audience.

Having a message and keeping it consistent; agreeing on a plan and sticking to it; recognizing the excellence that surrounds us; and listening for and making the “sounds of support and celebration” are themes that echo and resound throughout his presentation.

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COMMENTS FROM AUDIENCES

"You were very inspiring...people have quoted you regarding overcoming barriers to achieve personal dreams...seeing them as opportunities and not road blocks."

RBC Financial Group

"Your speech was most inspirational. You delivered it with poise, polish and class."

Hamilton Sports Celebrity Dinner

"Only one word can describe your participation...awesome! You have such a great attitude to life and all that it has to offer that I am sure you inspired everyone there. Life is about breaking barriers of all sorts and you demonstrated that in spades. You are a great role model"

Shad International

"Thank you for kicking our ceremony off in such a dynamite way. I am truly impressed with your flair on stage...I couldn't have imagined the event without you."

Precision Management Consultants

"'...your speech was the best presentation not only of our workshop, but of any event she [a participant] had ever attended.'"

Health Quality Council

"Right from the start Jeff was genuine, funny and an enthralling man to listen to and I'm happy to say this continued throughout his entire presentation. He had entertaining anecdotes, amusing stories and an inspiring over all message. There's always that fear at the end of presentation when the floor is open to questions that no-one will raise their hand, but today this was not an issue! In fact, unlike any other guest speaker we've had, at the end of his presentation everyone wanted to come and shake his hand, have a quick word and say 'thank you'. I think this in itself speaks volumes. Our next guest speaker has a high standard to meet!"

Guelph Hydro