Craig MacFarlane

Audiences in more than 30 countries have been entertained, moved and inspired by Craig MacFarlane, often referred to as the world’s most celebrated totally blind athlete. Yet his extraordinary athletic accomplishments are only the backdrop to an even more remarkable story about possibility, perseverance and the people who help shape our lives.

In this powerful and deeply personal keynote, Craig takes audiences behind the accomplishments and into the moments that defined his journey. With warmth, humor and unmistakable authenticity, he shares how a young boy who lost his eyesight at the age of two learned not to focus on what was missing, but instead on what was still possible.

Prepare to run the gamut of emotions as Craig shares the stories behind the story on how his life was shaped, molded and mentored by an extraordinary collection of people including the remarkable chapter that brought him to America to live with hockey legend Gordie Howe and his wife, Colleen.

Along the way, Craig will take audiences through some of the unforgettable highlights of his journey: carrying the Olympic Torch through Washington, D.C., being invited to meet Pope Benedict XVI at the Vatican, winning a national blind downhill skiing championship at speeds exceeding 50 miles per hour and becoming the first totally blind professional athlete performing as a water ski jumper in the world-famous Cypress Gardens shows.

His story has been featured in Reader’s Digest, The New York Times, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, 60 Minutes International, the BBC and numerous other publications and television networks around the world.

But this presentation is about far more than blindness or athletic achievement.

Craig uses his remarkable journey to challenge audiences to look differently at their own lives by recognizing the gifts, abilities and opportunities they may have taken for granted and to consider how much more may still be within their reach.

Entertaining, emotional, riveting and ultimately uplifting, From Tragedy to Triumph will leave audiences with a renewed sense of possibility, a deeper appreciation for the people and opportunities in their lives, and the inspiration to reach for the next rung on their own ladder both personally and professionally.

Above all, they will leave with something increasingly valuable in today’s world, a greater sense of gratitude, perspective and compassion for the journey of others.

What happens when the lights go out around you?

You learn how to create your own.

The Power of a Self-Lit Flame is an energizing, thought-provoking and often humorous keynote about developing the internal drive necessary to keep moving forward especially when circumstances, uncertainty or adversity threaten to slow you down.

Craig MacFarlane has spent virtually his entire life navigating a world he cannot see. From the funny, awkward and sometimes unpredictable realities of growing up without eyesight to leaving his small farm community in rural Canada to attend a school for the blind 500 miles from home to eventually competing on the world stage, Craig has learned that our greatest source of strength cannot always come from the world around us. Sometimes, we have to generate it from within.

Through unforgettable stories, humor and powerful life lessons, Craig challenges audiences to look beyond their comfort zones and reconsider what they believe is possible.

His message encourages people to search for that one more degree of performance, discover their next gear and recognize the untapped potential that often exists just beyond the boundaries they have unknowingly placed around themselves.

Craig reminds audiences that the flame inside each of us does not have to be dependent upon perfect circumstances, constant encouragement or an obstacle-free path. It can be strengthened through belief, ownership, resilience, purpose and the willingness to keep moving forward when the easier choice would be to stop.

Whether someone is navigating change, pursuing a major goal, facing uncertainty or simply wondering what comes next, Craig provides the extra fuel to help reignite that internal flame.

Audiences will be challenged to elevate their mindset, strengthen their resolve and recalibrate their internal compass as they look toward the next chapter of their lives and careers.

No matter your age, position or stage in life, there is another rung to reach for, another gear to discover and another level of potential waiting to be uncovered.

The Power of a Self-Lit Flame leaves audiences not simply inspired by what Craig has accomplished, but asking a much more important question:

What could I accomplish if I stopped waiting for the world to light the way and learned to ignite the flame within myself?