Elizabeth Manley

Elizabeth Manley is the 1988 Olympic Silver Medalist and Olympic Freestyle Champion, winning more than 50 national and international medals in her long and successful career. Boasting more than 30 years experience in both amateur and professional figure skating, Liz was the first Canadian female to successfully land a triple-double combination jump in competition, and has participated in two Olympic Games, six World Championships, and won three National Titles at the Canadian Championships.

Following a brief period of poor performance, Liz entered the 1988 Calgary Olympic Games as the underdog. Skating a phenomenal long program, Liz lost out on winning the gold medal by a fraction of a point. Her amazing comeback endeared her to Canadians and figure skating fans around the world. Upon winning the silver medal in Calgary, Liz retired from amateur skating to focus on professional events. She is a four-time World Cup Champion, a two-time U.S. Open Champion, Rock n’ Roll on Ice Champion, Diet Coke International Champion and a Legends of Figure Skating Champion.

Liz is a recipient of The Royal Order of Canada, and the author of two autobiographies: Thumbs Up- The Elizabeth Manley Story and Elizabeth Manley - As I Am: My Life After the Olympics. She has had three television specials, “Trial of Red Riding Hood", “Back to the Beanstalk” and “Dear Elizabeth”, which won a Gemini Award.

Liz now spends her time giving seminars nationally and coaching at her arena in Ontario. She is the former National Spokesperson for Herbal Magic, and a current spokesperson for Ovarian Cancer Canada, The Alzheimer’s Society of Ottawa, and the Winners Walk of Hope, which is Canada’s largest fundraiser for Ovarian Cancer. She is also an advocate for the Alzheimer’s Association of Canada. Liz is also the Ambassador for the Health Council of Canada’s "Better Value for the Money" campaign, and she regularly works with the Canadian Mental Health Association. Liz regularly works with the Canadian Mental Health Association., and she recently became a member of the Cancer Foundation Courage Campaign Presidents Advisory Circle in Ottawa.

Liz was a sports commentator for NBC for the Salt Lake City and Torino Games, and was a part of the CTV broadcast team for the 2010 Vancouver Games.

An uplifting, compassionate and inspirational speaker, Liz’s presentations centre around motivation, health awareness, mental illness, depression, surviving loss, and living – and coping – with loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s.

• 4. Hosting & MCing

• 2. Lessons Learned From Being An Olympic Champion

  What are the many lessons that Manley has learned from her years as a champion?
  
  The endless hours of training and goal setting, the commitment, the focus, the immense drive that creates a world-class champion... can anyone do it? Manley relives her incredible journey; the ups and downs, the pressures, the struggles, and the triumphs, and gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse into what it takes to make it to the top.

  Wheather in sport or business, struggles exist in all journeys to success. Manley discusses the importance of constantly re-vamping life’s goals.

  Audience will take the skills to become a champion:

  * Discipline
  * Setting short- and long-term goals
  * Reaching for the impossible
  * Structure & time management
  * Change and decision making
  * Stress management
  * Dealing with criticism
  * Learning from failure
  * Working with & trusting your team
  * Working hard for success

• 3. Striving for a Healthier You: Fit, Healthier and Happier Than Ever!

  Having comeback from depression to win an Olympic Medal, Manley speaks out on her struggles with depression, and how she came back from it. Manley outlines the stigma of mental illness and talks about dealing with it and helping others.

  Post Olympics, Manley shares her experiences with losing loved ones to many of today's diseases. Manley speaks about her experience with losing her mother to Ovarian Cancer, and her father from Alzheimer’s. She opens her heart and talks candidly about taking on the role as caregiver.

  Like many people, Manley had a long struggle with weight issues. She presents on when and why her struggle with her weight began, her associated health challenges, as well as the social stigma associated with being overweight (especially for an Olympian). Although it's an everyday challenge, her presentation ends with discussing how she deals with these obstacles in her way to become more fit, healthier and happier than ever!

• 5. Celebrity Appearances & Endorsements

  Elizabeth Manley is available for a variety of celebrity endorsements and opportunities. She has been involved with a number of health and wellness campaigns including:

  - Herbal Magic

  - Numerous Mental Health Campaigns across Canada

  - Ovarian Cancer Research and Awareness

  - Alzheimer’s Disease Research and Awareness

  - TFAL

  Please click here for more information.

• 1. Overcoming the Odds

  Olympic Figure Skating Champion Elizabeth Manley has overcome numerous obstacles on her road to success. In her honest and uplifting style, Manley speaks about some of her many challenges, demonstrating how her positive attitude and perseverance have helped her come out on top.
  Issues that Manley speaks about:

  * Coming from a lower income family, and creating a very public, successful career.
  * Weight issues
  * Handling negative criticism
  * Dealing with the pressures of becoming and being a champion 

• The consensus is "best AGM ever". I owe a large portion of the thanks to you, Liz. Your ability to relate and engage with the audience is unique. The Board, consumers, staff and donors fell in love with you. We now know why you are referred to as "Canada's Sweetheart". On a specific note, your response to questions was perfect and honest. You didn't oppose or support different methods of therapy but spoke about what worked for you! That is really what it is all about.

  Canadian Mental Health Association

• Elizabeth Manley clearly speaks from her heart. In each and every presentation she has given in support of the Alzheimer Society at the local or national levels, she has openly shared her family's experience with Alzheimer's disease to break down the stigma of the disease and to help make change happen. What a great tribute of love for her father. Elizabeth truly inspires families to take advantage of Alzheimer programs she knows will have great benefits for them in their dementia journey. Her presentations leave everyone in a positive frame of mind with the message that appropriate services can be made available throughout the disease process if families and politicians work together as a group in the fight against Alzheimer's disease.

  Alzheimer Society of Ottawa and Renfrew County

• Not only were you warm and personable but your story was also truly inspiring. Our delegates were truly touched by your journey, the struggles and personal challenges that you experienced, and your eventual triumph to become an Olympic champion. Your presentation was lively and incredibly heart-warming.

  Ontario Real Estate Association

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  September 1999

  As I Am: My Life After the Olympics

  In her new book, As I Am, Liz takes readers through her tumultuous years as the star of the Ice Capades, including battles with her weight, depression, skating injuries, accusations of substance abuse and her shocking dismissal from a major skating tour. Liz also reveals the story of her obsessive and abusive relationship with one man, focusing as well on the image problems that female skaters face, which often lead to low self-esteem and eating disorders.