NHL pre-season has just hit the ice, the NFL has had its first kick-off, MLB is racing towards the world series, and the first NBA tip-off is on the horizon — sports season is in full swing.
Olympians and elite athletes are among our most requested motivational speakers, captivating audiences with stories of perseverance, teamwork, goalsetting, and overcoming adversity. They inspire audiences to push beyond limits and achieve peak performance, both in business and life.
Below is a roundup of our most sought-after athlete keynote speakers. Contact us to learn more about our complete roster of sports heroes and how to book them to speak at your next event.
Olympians and Elite Athletes
The world of sports is filled with inspiring stories, which is why sports keynote speakers are in high demand by organizations across sectors and industries. Whether they are legends who have helped shaped the history of their game or rising stars making waves, these speakers captivate audiences with their firsthand experiences of overcoming obstacles and pushing the limits of human potential.
Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser
Four-time Olympic Gold Medalist | Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame
Dr. Hayley Wickenheiser is considered one of the best female hockey players of all time. Canada’s all-time leading scorer, she has won seven world championships, made six Olympic appearances, and won five Olympic medals — four of them Gold.
Today, Hayley is the assistant general manager of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs as well as a community leader, medical doctor, and businesswoman who inspires audiences to give their best in everything they do.
Chris Pronger
Member of the Hockey Hall of Fame | Stanley Cup Champion
Chris Pronger is a Stanley Cup Champion, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist, and one of the NHL’s top 100 players of all time. As a member of the elite Triple Gold Club, he has built a legacy of sustained excellence and unmatched leadership.
Chris takes audiences behind the highlight reels to share the hard-earned lessons of a champion, helping leaders and teams think and compete like champions by turning pressure into performance, setbacks into fuel, and talent into lasting success.
Tessa Virtue
Olympic and World Ice Dance Champion
The winner of three Olympic gold medals, five medals in total, Tessa Virtue is the most decorated figure skater in Olympic history. Today, as an executive advisor with Deloitte, she works with senior leaders to unlock potential and empower sustained high performance.
As a keynote speaker, Tessa combines her lived experience with her expertise in positive psychology to share researched-backed tools and strategies to help individuals and teams flourish.
Clara Hughes
Six-Time Olympic Medalist | Mental Health Advocate
Clara Hughes has lived a life in constant motion. She is the only athlete in Olympic history to win multiple medals in both summer and winter Games, and she has since completed the “Triple Crown” of long-distance hiking — the Pacific Crest, Continental Divide, and Appalachian Trail.
In her intimate keynotes, Clara explores the power of movement to change lives. She candidly shares her experience living with depression to inspire audiences to face their fears, find their voice, and become the champions they’re meant to be. Her revelatory story touches the hearts of all.
Jordin Tootoo
The First Inuk Player in the NHL | Founder of the Team Tootoo Foundation
Jordin Tootoo made history as the first Inuk player to be drafted by the NHL. Over his 13-year career, he played for the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, and Chicago Blackhawks, banking 161 points, including 65 goals, in 723 career games.
A trailblazer both on and off the ice, Jordin has since become a vocal mental health advocate dedicated to giving back to his communities. As a keynote speaker, he delivers powerful messages about resilience and overcoming challenges and adversity to keep moving forward.
Quinn
Olympic Champion | Transgender Trailblazer and Advocate
At the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, Quinn became the first transgender athlete to not only compete, but also make it to the podium and earn a gold medal after a historic win for the Canadian Women’s Soccer team. Today, Quinn is a midfielder for the Vancouver Rise FC, where they made history again scoring the first goal of the Northern Super League, Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league.
In their intimate keynotes, Quinn shares their journey as a transgender athlete and the power of allyship in helping members of the LGBTQ2+ community achieve success.
Christine Sinclair
Former Captain, Canadian Women’s Gold Medal Soccer Team | Three-Time Olympic Medalist
The FIFA all-time leading scorer in the history of international soccer, Christine Sinclair has been named Canadian Female Soccer Player of the Year 14 times, nominated seven times for FIFA Women’s World Player of the Year, and won three Olympic medals, including a history-making gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
Christine shares her inspiring rise to soccer success. She describes the teamwork, passion, and competitive nature she needed, as well as the obstacles she had to overcome in her sport.
Jon Montgomery
Olympic Gold Medalist | Host, The Amazing Race Canada
Jon Montgomery captured the hearts of Canadians at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic, where he won a gold medal in the skeleton. His celebratory walk through Whistler Village showcased his passion, spirit, and sense of humour.
Jon credits keeping his eyes open, living outside his comfort zone, and accepting challenges as they presented themselves for enabling him to find his passion and realize his dreams. His story inspires others to go after what they’re looking for, no matter how daunting a task it may seem.
Jennifer Botterill
Three-Time Olympic Gold Medalist
Perhaps best known for her regular appearances on CBC’s Hockey Night in Canada, Jennifer Botterill is a three-time Olympic champion and an in-demand NHL analyst in both Canada and the US.
Drawing on her 14-year career as a member of the Canadian Women’s Hockey Team as well as her dynamic career in broadcasting, Jennifer shows audiences how to approach life with a new standard of high performance, and shares strategies on how to not only make it to the next level, but to excel when you get there.
Andre de Grasse
Olympic Champion Sprinter | Seven-Time Olympic Medalist
Andre De Grasse is the most decorated male Olympian in Canadian history. He made history at the 2016 Rio Olympics when he became the first Canadian to win Olympic medals in all three sprint events in a single Games. He then did it again five years later at the Tokyo Games.
As one of the fastest humans alive, Andre has demonstrated what it takes to perform at your best under enormous pressure and to continue to push the limit of what seems impossible. He shares important lessons from his improbable journey to becoming an Olympic champion.
Marnie McBean
Three-Time Olympic Champion | High Performance Specialist
Marnie McBean’s Olympic journey spans an impressive 10 games, where she donned various roles from athlete to media representative, mentor to chef de mission. She is one of only two Canadians to have won three gold medals in the Summer Olympics and one of two women globally to have secured medals in all six boat classes.
As a team and solo performer, Marnie cracked the formula for success, winning 12 World and Olympic medals. She distills her universal framework for success, sharing invaluable lessons on performance and teamwork.
Jeff Adams
Paralympian and World Champion | Human Rights Lawyer
A three-time Paralympic Champion and six-time World Champion in wheelchair racing, Jeff Adams is living proof that focus, determination, and spirit are the keys to achieving “gold medal” dreams.
Combining his unique understanding of life’s challenges with his experience as a world-class athlete, Jeff shares proven methods to help people meet their goals and achieve success. He has faced monumental challenges admirably, competing in six consecutive Summer Paralympics, from 1988 to 2008, and winning a total of three gold, four silver, and six bronze medals.
Award-Winning Coaches
Behind every great athlete is an exceptional coach. Meet the people who inspire our favourite athletes — professional coaches who’ve spent their careers developing champions and building winning cultures. From the sidelines to the boardroom, they know what it takes to unlock peak performance.
John Herdman
Award-Winning Coach | Performance and Leadership Expert
Internationally renowned for his leadership philosophy, John Herdman is the first coach to qualify both a women’s and men’s national team for the World Cup. During his prolific career, he has coached at four FIFA World Cups, three Olympic Games, and two FIFA youth World Cups.
In his inspirational keynotes, John reveals the “unseen edge” that transformed his teams — trust and psychological safety. He equips audiences with the tools and strategies needed to build unshakeable trust and transform culture into their competitive advantage.
Michael “Pinball” Clemons
Canadian Sports Hall-of-Famer | General Manager, CFL’s Toronto Argonauts
A CFL legend, Michael “Pinball” Clemons is a three-time Grey Cup winner, honoured with the CFL’s “most outstanding player” award in 1990 after setting the single-season record for all-purpose yards. He played his last game in 2000, becoming head coach of the Argonauts in the same year. He led them to six consecutive East Division Finals, including the 2004 championship.
Few people exemplify the qualities of personal excellence, teamwork, and overcoming the odds. With boundless energy, Pinball’s talks centre on our potential to achieve anything we set our minds to.
Dr. Ivan Joseph
Award-Winning Performance Coach | Leadership and Cultural Transformation Expert
From building a soccer program from scratch to leading teams to their first-ever national championship, Dr. Ivan Joseph has mastered transforming potential into performance. An NAIA National Coach of the Year, he guided Graceland University’s men’s soccer team to a #1 national ranking and historic championship in just five years.
Ivan’s coaching philosophy centers on self-confidence. His dynamic keynotes share championship-building strategies for developing deep-rooted confidence and high-performing cultures.
Bring championship energy to your stage. Contact us to book from our roster of Olympic champions, professional athletes, and championship coaches.
