Mallory Weggemann

An unfortunate accident in 2008 left her paralayzed, but didn't keep her down, as she went on to become the #1 Paralympic swimmer in the world.

Expert on

  • Inspirational
  • Sports / Athletics
  • Change
  • Personal Development
  • Motivation
  • Tough Times

Fee Range

$10,000–$15,000

Travels from

CA, US

Biography

2012 Paralympic Gold Medalist Mallory Weggemann had her life changed on January 21, 2008.  A routine epidural to help treat back pain left the college freshman paralyzed from the waist down.  However, having been a competitive swimmer since the age of seven, she found one thing unchanged – her love for swimming.  On April 8, 2008, Mallory returned to the pool, and has been breaking national and world records ever since.  However, just days before the 2012 Paralympics, a controversial decision to move Mallory up a class left her competing against swimmers with full use of their legs.  Nonetheless, she defied the odds and won Gold in the 50m freestyle, which became one of the signature races during the Games.

Small Steps, Big Impact: A “Small Victories” Approach to Leadership

According to Mallory Weggemann, one of the keys to leadership is to tackle a seemingly insurmountable challenge by achieving small victories along the way. While fighting her way to the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 after suffering a debilitating arm injury, Weggemann discovered one of the greatest qualities leaders possess is the ability to adapt—particularly in the face of overwhelming obstacles. She then continued to apply her philosophy to her training following Rio, with an epic comeback including 3 medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

 

Outside of sports, she applies this resilience to every facet of life, from her training to her decision to learn how to walk down the aisle at her wedding. Through reflection and raw honesty, Weggemann teaches audiences how to celebrate small victories and to use setbacks as tools to develop teams.

Personal Stories: Finding the “Why?”

Mallory Weggemann describes the day she became paralyzed back in January 2008 and her initial struggles to cope with the fact that her life had changed in the blink of an eye. After months of self-reflection, Weggemann began to find answers to her number one question—why? Committed to the belief that everything happens for a reason, she shares her emotional journey, including the debilitating injury that affected her 2016 Paralympics and set her on the path toward a 2020 comeback in which she won 2 gold medals and one silver. In this powerful discussion, Weggemann sends audiences on a journey of their own self-reflection as she challenges everyone to realize their own paths as she insists that no odds are too large to overcome.

Grit, Resilience and Triumph Over Any Obstacle

  • “You’re the best. You can make a difference and change the world.” The phrase, spoken to Mallory Weggemann by her father each day growing up, is among her core beliefs. Weggemann emphasizes that no matter your disability, everyone is able to overcome and ultimately make a difference in the world. With her unique ability to make audience members feel as if they are involved in a personal conversation, Weggemann teaches how to locate the grit and resilience necessary to keep moving in the face of setbacks.