Biography

At the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, John Naber captured four Gold Medals, one Silver and broke four World Records in swimming. His World marks in the 100 and 200 meter backstroke lasted an amazing seven years after his retirement. In 1984 he carried the Olympic Flag into the Opening Ceremonies of the Los Angeles Games and was elected into the United States Olympic Committee Hall of Fame. As a sports commentator, John has served as play-by-play host for over 30 different Olympic sports. Along with his individual goal-setting methods, John uses his experience as an Olympic athlete and his observations as a sports announcer to illustrate the process of seeing dreams come true.

Currently, John serves on the board of directors of the US Olympic Committee.

For over a quarter century, John Naber has delighted audiences with his stories of ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary results in the area of life that is most important to them. Standing ovations attest to his ability to customize his remarks with humor, personal anecdotes and “Power Paragraphs” appropriate for each occasion. Naber consistently receives “gold medal reviews” from each of his clients.

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Speech TopicsExpand each topic to learn more

Pursuing Victory with Honor

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The Gold Medal Process: Eight Steps to Go from Dreams to a Winning Reality

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Eureka: How Innovation Changes the Olympics and Everything Else

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Awaken the Olympian Within: Tap the Competitor Inside You!

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Testimonials

I congratulate you on the extraordinary speech you gave at our recent meeting. I have never heard a motivational speaker who incorporated the meeting's objectives and major emphasis points into the message as effectively as you do.
– Jim Westbury, Producer - DISNEY BUSINESS PRODUCTIONS
You really made a big hit with everyone by referencing specific situations and challenges we face at retail into your presentation. Reps commented to me later that your comments were right on target and encouraged them to work hard and reach their goals.
– John Diehl, Director of Retail Service - MATTEL, INC.
Your message was timely, clear, and delivered with the energy and enthusiasm of a champion. Many of the attendees have told me that they were personally and professionally challenged by your message.
– Kevin Tripp, Executive Vice President an - AMERICAN DRUG STORES (Savon & Osco Drug)
. . . your presentation drew a direct line from your own athletic achievements to the goals our partners could achieve in their client service and business development efforts.
– Thomas M., Chairman - Thompson Coburn, LLP
It’s been about a month since you spoke to our group, and everyday, I still hear people talking about your presentation and your book Awaken the Olympian Within. I think that’s a true testament to the powerful and motivational message that you delivered. I was most impressed with your ability to mold your presentation to match our current business issues, concerns and trends. Several comments from my group are paraphrased by ‘How did he know so much about Phoenix Contact?’. You did a masterful job.
– Scott McLendon, Director of Sales - PHOENIX CONTACT
We’ve had what I’d describe as ‘rave reviews’ about the meeting; something I’ve not experienced in my working career! I know we’ll call on you again in the future.
– Robert L. Wuench, Executive Vice President - MITSUBISHI CATERPILLAR FORKLIFT AMERICA, INC

Booksby John Naber

Olympic Trivia Challenge: 100 Questions and the Remarkable Stories Behind Them

Eureka!: How Innovation Changes the Olympic Games (and everything else)

Awaken the Olympian Within: Stories from America's Greatest Olympic Motivators

Blog Posts

Yellow September Lessons That Go Beyond the Applause

Yellow September reminds us that mental health conversations at events can save lives—here's how to create meaningful connections beyond applause.

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Stage Fright Doesn’t Have to End Your Speaking Career (This Mentalist Proves It)

Learn how mentalist Christophe Fox transformed paralyzing stage fright into Fortune 100 CEO presentations through preparation and mindset.

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Events Under Pressure: How One Planner Won an Emmy with Six Days Notice

Discover how Emmy-winning event planner Gabriella Robuccio conquered live events with just six days' notice using boundaries and vulnerability.

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Why Relatable Leaders Build Stronger Teams (And How You Can Become One)

Discover engagement strategies fom expert Rachel DeAlto on how leaders can become more relatable and transform their workforce for the better.

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Why Top Event Planners Are Booking Storytellers (You Should Too)

Discover why storytellers create lasting impact at events through wonder, not just applause—transform your audience experience today.

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AI Networking Strategies That Actually Work in 2025 with Marketing Legend Seth Godin

Learn AI networking secrets from marketing expert Seth Godin on building peer circles that outperform traditional expert models.

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