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A Champion Among Olympic Speakers

Olympic Speaker Connor Fields

As an Olympic speaker, I don’t just talk about high performance. I show people how to train their mindset, prepare for pressure, and navigate what comes after their biggest moment – whether it’s a win or a loss.

A Story of Olympic Success, Failure, and Moving Forward.

Setting a goal, reaching your big moment but then falling short, finally achieving your Olympic Gold Medal moment, a catastrophic failure of career-ending proportions. These situations seem to span the spectrum of possible outcomes, yet each time, you are left with the same question.

In my keynote, “Now What?” I take you on my journey to the Olympic games —where triumph and failure collided—and share how resilience, adaptability, and mental strength shaped my path. I didn’t just win a gold medal. This isn’t your typical Olympic Athlete sports story. I nearly lost my life at the Olympics, too. From choking in my first final to bringing home gold to fighting for my life, I learned that having a true champion’s mentality isn’t just about reaching the summit—it’s about how you rise again despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles and keep going, no matter the outcome.

Success is personal. Everyone’s “Gold Medal” looks different, but we all face moments when we must ask ourselves: Where do I go from here?

In this keynote, I’ll share powerful strategies that helped me go from being a kid with a dream to picking myself up after a failure, winning gold, and reinventing myself after a catastrophic loss. You’ll learn how to navigate the highs and lows, increase adaptability, and keep moving forward after your biggest moments, whether they’re victories or losses. Audiences leave more motivated than ever to go after their own goals. The goal of motivational speakers is to inspire, but my goal is to leave the audience with actionable strategies as well.

Themes Covered

🎯 Going After Your Goal: Actionable Steps

You have a goal. Now what? In my keynote, I share the mindset and strategies that led me to Olympic Gold, lessons built on resilience, focus, and consistent action. Success isn’t just about big dreams; it’s about the small, intentional choices you make every day. I also introduce periodization—the athlete’s method of peaking at the right time—and show how you can apply that framework to your life so you’re prepared when it matters most.

🔍 How To Move Forward From Failure

You came up short. Now what? Failure forces us to either keep pushing or change direction entirely. I offer practical tools for navigating both. Peak performance isn’t just about nailing the big moments—it’s about how you respond after the fact. By breaking down my first Olympic disappointment, I’ll show you how reflection can spark growth, and how to keep moving toward your next breakthrough with clarity and confidence.

⚡ How to Sustain Success: Lessons from Olympic Speakers

You reached your goal. Now what? After becoming the first American to win Olympic Gold in my sport, I had to learn how to handle the pressure of staying at the top. In my keynote, I explore how to celebrate your wins—but also how to keep pushing forward with the same hunger as before. Through real stories and insights, I help audiences stay driven and equipped to sustain success long after the first win.

Who is it for?

Anyone chasing their version of a gold medal. Whether it’s a corporate team navigating big goals, athletes training for their next win, or students learning to lead themselves – Olympic mindset training gives them the tools to stay focused, adapt under pressure, and show up when it counts.

Corporate Teams – High performance and leadership under pressure
Athletes & Coaches – Mindset, preparation, and comeback confidence
Students & Universities – Goal setting, overcoming adversity, and resilience
Event Attendees & Retreats – Inspiration, grit, and a message that sticks

If you’re ready to perform under pressure and push past limits — Let’s get to work.

Olympic Speaker Keynotes

Strategies From an Olympic Gold Medalist

Everyone has their own unique version of a gold medal, and success means something different to every team, but we can all use the same strategies to reach our gold medal moments and seize them.

My two keynotes unpack the mindset, grit, and strategy behind Olympic-level success. Real stories. Real tools. Built to move your audience forward.

Now What?

This incredible keynote presentation delves into the crucial power of resilience, overcoming failures, unwavering determination, and perspective, empowering you to face challenges head-on. With compelling stories and hard-earned insights, Connor empowers attendees to be ready to answer the question “Now What?” every time.

Gold Medal Moments

From choking at his first games, winning sports greatest prize at his second, and nearly losing his life at his third, Connor experienced a range of outcomes. Each time, learning different lessons about preparation, how to succeed despite setbacks, and failing with grace. Through captivating stories and actionable takeaways, attendees will learn tools to drive success.

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Why Book Connor?

Everyone knows the classic Olympic speaker’s sports story: dream big, work hard, fail a couple of times, win the world championships, then achieve your goal of being an Olympic medalist and go home happy. Connor’s story doesn’t end with a shiny gold medal being placed around his neck as Olympic Champion.

Through raw and honest storytelling, Connor shares how his near-death experience reshaped his perspective on what it means to “lose.” Whether the focus of your event is personal growth, navigating high-pressure environments, resilience, leadership development, or innovation, booking Connor as your keynote speaker promises a captivated audience who leaves inspired to live life fully, motivated to work toward big goals, and confident in their ability to adapt to an ever-changing and unexpected world. Contact me directly or your speaker’s bureau today!

🏁 Not Just a Medalist

Connor is the only Olympic athlete to win gold and nearly lose his life at the Games. That perspective shifts everything.

🎯 Real Strategies, Not Just Stories

Your team won’t just hear about peak performance—they’ll learn the same frameworks Connor used to train, compete, and rebuild.

🎤 A Speaker with Global Reach & Heart

From TEDx to NBC, from conferences to classrooms—audiences leave fired up and focused, ready to chase their own version of gold.

Have an Olympic Speaker Unleash Your Team

If you want a gold medal event at your next conference, next event, next meeting, or next retreat, bring in one of the most inspirational keynote speakers in the world. Connor has inspired business leaders and corporate events across the globe with incredibly inspiring true stories. Connor has been featured in publications like Sports Illustrated, is a part of the Hall of Fame, holds world records, and is one of the top motivational speakers.

Whatever industry you are in, Olympic athlete speakers can inspire like no other. They are the perfect speakers to help motivate your team to overcome extreme adversity. No matter your playing field, make your next conference a gold medal success by contacting Connor directly for a custom speaker proposal or having your speakers bureau bring him in for standout speaking engagements.

Olympic Speaker Keynotes

Above all, more than anything, success is made up of these 3 ingredients that Connor goes into:

Setting Goals

In this keynote as an Olympic motivational speaker, Connor explains the steps that propelled him to become a World Cup winner and one-time Olympic gold medalist. What started as a crazy goal written on the wall at his parent’s house at 15 turned into a mission. However, the bigger the goal, the bigger the obstacles you will face.

Connor underlines the crucial need for setting precise, ambitious goals and the power of making every decision count toward overcoming what may seem like insurmountable obstacles. Through raw and honest stories, Connor opens up about his own struggles the times he wanted to give up, and shares how he was able to move forward each time with lessons that can be immediately applied to whatever goal the listener sets.

Every choice, no matter how small, can impact our path to success. As a keynote speaker, Connor shares his approach to goal-setting and decision-making.

Learn From Your Mistakes

What happens when you do everything right and prepare as much as possible, but it doesn’t work out? How do you believe you can get it right next time? This is a challenge in both sports and in life. Olympic speakers have seen extreme adversity and can help you learn how to work through it at your event. How do you have the courage to try again? The first thing to do is look in the mirror and figure out why you did not succeed. That is hard to do, and it can hurt, but it is necessary if you want to be the best you can be.

This introspection was crucial and helped Connor establish best practices to prime for peak performance the next chance he got. Connor shares these lessons to prepare you for your Gold Medal Moment when it arrives.

Manage The Pressure

The whole country is counting on you…hundreds of millions of people are watching…your entire career comes down to this moment…will you become an Olympic gold medalist and one of the Olympic champions? The intensity of jumping a massively long jump, competing in a World Cup, or an Olympic final is unmatched, yet the essence of pressure remains constant across all scenarios – it doesn’t matter if you’re on the Olympic starting line or preparing for a presentation at your next conference. If it is important to you, you will feel the pressure.

Connor has developed world-record holder proven strategies to manage the pressure of needing to succeed in that make-or-break moment, strategies born from moments when the stakes couldn’t be higher. Connor explains how they can be adapted to navigate the pressures in your own life, in both work and personal life. He can help you turn seemingly daunting challenges into opportunities for growth and achievement.

Testimonials

I have worked with many athletes and speakers in the past, and Connor was outstanding. He came prepared, was flexible, and was an all-around professional.

Ray Monks

Boon Supply

Connor is a spectacular speaker. He framed his inspirational story within the featured subjects of our conference in a way that reached every person in the room. It was an honor to have him with us and I highly recommend him for anyone seeking to learn more about navigating risk, team building, leadership, and more!

Brett Abarbanel

Executive Director

UNLV International Gaming Institute

Your ability to connect in an organized and organic manner was both enlightening and thought-provoking. Your anecdotes and real-life examples added a personal touch that resonated deeply with the audience. It was evident that your dedication to your goals shines through in every word you shared.

Jennifer Reynolds

CRME

The Industrial

I found out about Connor and his speaking engagements through a hospitality event my Wife attended in Las Vegas. His presentation was inspirational and moving, and even humorous at times. I am thankful that he is using his experiences to inspire others. He was a hit in the recovery community.

Rev. Russ Smethers

Lead Pastor

Foundation For Recovery

Connor’s story telling ability connected his real-life experience to the business owners and leaders in the room.

Sonia Petkewich

Catalyst Mastermind Collaborative

I have never seen every single member of our team so captivated, intrigued, and hanging on the edge of their seats. During his talk, people were laughing, in tears, motivated, and educated – there is nothing more you can ask for! Connor is a champion on the largest stage in sports, and he made every single person feel like they know now what it takes to be a champion in their own lives, and in our business!

Blake Wynn

Founder & CEO

Celebrity Poker Tour

I had the good fortune to work with Connor Fields as our keynote speaker for an event in Downtown, Las Vegas. If this were a yelp review he would have 5- stars across the board, and the comment would read “Strongly recommend.

Nick Libonati

MGM Resorts International

Connor Fields delivered an inspiring keynote at the Special Olympics Northern California Summer Games, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, teamwork, and the true meaning of success beyond medals. His message resonated deeply, encouraging athletes to always strive for their best and to cherish the camaraderie of their teams. His passion for supporting Special Olympics athletes was evident in every word, leaving a lasting impact on everyone present.

Mei Lin Domanski

Marketing Coordinator

Special Olympics

Today I heard Connor Fields deliver the very best speech I have ever heard in person – and as an academic, I have been listening to talks for three decades. Moving, motivating, and smart – in a way that no other speaker is. Nobody at our event left unchanged – in fact, they all left happily and forever changed.

Bo Jason Berhard, Ph. D

Vice President Economic Development

UNR/UNLV

I highly recommend Connor Fields as a speaker for your event. His powerful message of perseverance and the significance of each decision deeply resonated with our educators and staff. Connor’s engaging delivery and inspiring insights motivated our team to strive for excellence and reinforce their commitment to student success.

Rodney Saunders

Executive Director

Doral Charter Academy

Having Connor speak to us was incredible. He has a special ability to inspire those he speaks to while igniting within them a greater perspective on their lives.

Ben Ferney

Weber State Board of Trustees Weber State Board of Trustees

Connor Fields has been an incredible speaker at both our flagship and regional events, and I can’t recommend him enough. His story is truly inspiring, motivating our audience and earning standing ovations every time he speaks for us. His presence always leaves a lasting impression. Not only is Connor an engaging and impactful speaker, but he is also a joy to work with, bringing a professional, approachable attitude that makes collaboration easy.

Tina Poisl

Senior Director of Event Content

Inman

Connor Fields delivered an unforgettable keynote at our conference, inspiring nearly 3,000 real estate professionals with his powerful story of resilience, perseverance, and the mindset of a champion. His ability to connect with the audience—sharing both his triumphs and challenges—left a lasting impact, earning him a well-deserved standing ovation.

Emily Paquette

CEO

Inman

Connor is a mix of when real world talent, meets uncompromised dedication to his craft. We had the pleasure of him speaking to our select group of top sales people. The feedback was outstanding. His experience with failure, adversity, and success is Unparalleled. Failure is apart of everything great Entrepreneurs and salesmen go through, but so is success.

Will Hickey

YEG Pro Realty

WOW! Connor got us fired up and moved us all emotionally. Our team was glued to their seats as we listened to the details of his journey to understand how to be the best in the world. We got to see behind the curtain on what it really takes to be a high performance individual.

Jeff Quinton

CEO

The Quinton Group

It was right up our alley, as far as our messaging to our sales team. Mental preparation and being present are so important to us in our business, and his message was perfect and we feel so blessed to have had him! 1000% I would recommend hiring him. Great speaker, great message, everybody can identify with what he has to say and he is a first class guy.

Rich Hoffman

Senior Vice President

Flagstar Bank

Connors’ uplifting message of hope and determination inspired my team to embrace the moment and reflect on their “why.” It was an honor to have him share his story and empower us to reach our full potential. I highly recommend inviting Connor as a guest speaker for your next event.

Tiphanie McNiff

Director

The Raiderettes

Connor Fields delivered an unforgettable keynote at our 2025 annual Symposium, speaking to an audience of over 1,000 sports tourism professionals. His ability to tailor his Olympic journey and messaging specifically to our industry was exceptional—authentic, relevant, and deeply inspiring. Attendees raved about the presentation in our post-event survey, with Connor receiving some of the highest ratings we’ve ever seen. His story and delivery were not only impactful, but truly aligned with the spirit and purpose of our event.

John David

President & CEO

Sports Events & Tourism Association

Connor Fields brought incredible energy and delivered a truly heartfelt message that captured everyone in the audience. The highs and lows of his career are remarkable and he presents his complete story in such an engaging way. His lasting message of perseverance and positivity were very impactful, inspiring everyone to go for their own GOLD. I highly recommend choosing him for your next speaking engagement.

Ben Snyder

Executive Director

Grand Junction Sports Commission

Connor was the perfect closing keynote for our Ohio Parks and Recreation Association conference. He delivered an inspiring and engaging address which completely mesmerized our more than 800 attendees. He was easy to work with and we highly recommend him.

Woody Woodward

Executive Director

Ohio Parks and Recreation Association

From the very first contact I had with Connor, it was easy to tell how much he genuinely cared about his message and inspiring people. He spent time ahead of the conference to understand our culture and our people and then customized the message to make it impactful for the audience. The keynote speech was the highlight of our conference and added tremendous value for our attendees.

Brian Rowley

American Public Works Association

Our goals for the company moving into 2024 include setting and achieving goals and analyzing risk before starting any job or task. Your presentation effectively set the tone for our two day meeting. Sharing your goal setting and training process was exactly what our team needed. Our employees deal daily with eliminating risk as they perform work, again your story hit a home run. Thanks for sharing your story with us as we set productive goals for 2024.

LaMar Martin

Safety Manager

Holcim Group

Unbelievable… Such a moving story! “Right out the gate people were drawn to Connor. It was remarkable to watch how well he commanded the room. The large eyes and silence from people in the room spoke volumes. Connor’s journey was incredibly moving, and he did such an amazing job making his experience relatable. Setting and accomplishing goals was an important topic for our team and he nailed it!

Andrew Haight

CFO

Star Nursery Garden Centers

Connor’s story is just simply amazing and very inspiring: a must hear! His candor in sharing the highs and lows of his personal journey in fulfilling his lifelong dream is truly unique and had everyone in the room engaged. Anyone that has ever set a personal or business goal for themself will be able to relate to his keynote and respect and value his total commitment to that end. Connor was also very generous with the audience after his keynote and took many photos with delegates.

Brion Palmer

CEO

Technology Publishing Company

Connor Fields’ life story and achievements are a true inspiration for those seeking motivation to those challenges that we all face every day, both personally and professionally. I had the pleasure of hearing Connor speak an event in a smaller group about a year prior. After hearing him speak, I found myself recalling his story when I was in situations where I needed to self-motivate and be reminded of what comes from hard work and dedication – even when life throws obstacles your way.

Vincent Tatum

President

Grand Canyon Development Partners

It is my honor to recommend Connor Fields to you. He listened very carefully to what we are trying to accomplish through our event – both societally and financially. Once he committed, he was all in. He truly became our Mental Health Champion! Our goal was to grow our annual event while reducing the stigma around mental health care. Connor is a tremendous partner in this process – and an exceedingly skilled presenter.

Lisa R. James

Senior Director

Peak Vista Community Health Centers

Connor gave us an up-close look at the path he faced as a professional athlete and what he had to overcome to achieve his life-long dream of becoming an Olympic Gold Medal winner. Our staff faces challenges every day in their jobs and personal lives, and Connor shared his story in such a way that you could truly relate to the challenges he faced as if they were your own.