Six-Time Olympic Gold Medalist, Motivational Speaker
Amy Van Dyken: Biography at a Glance
- Six-time Olympic gold medal champion swimmer Amy Van Dyken made history as the most successful athlete at the ’96 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, becoming the first American female athlete to win four gold medals in a single Olympic games.
- But after a devastating ATV accident in 2014, Van Dyken was paralyzed from the waist down.
- Just months later, she defied doctors’ expectations and achieved her goal when she walked again, with braces and a walker.
Videos
Biography
Six-time Olympic gold medal champion swimmer Amy Van Dyken made history as the most successful athlete at the ’96 Summer Olympics in Atlanta, Georgia, becoming the first American female athlete to win four gold medals in a single Olympic games. But after a devastating ATV accident in 2014, Van Dyken was paralyzed from the waist down. Just months later, she defied doctors’ expectations and achieved her goal when she walked again, with braces and a walker.
A frequent speaker to nonprofit organizations and businesses across the country, Van Dyken is an encouraging symbol of strength and tenacity, and a role model for individuals with debilitating injuries and ailments. Her talk at ESPN’s Women + Sports Summit reflects on her experiences as a world-class athlete and a paraplegic and inspires others to develop their own “will to win" to accomplish their goals.
Following a doctor's advice, Van Dyken began swimming at the age of six in an effort to relieve her asthma and developed a strong “will to win” that made her a star in the ‘96 Games, despite competing with about 65% of normal lung capacity. After the games in Atlanta, Van Dyken went on to win two more medals in Sydney, Australia in 2000, earning the distinction of being one of the few Olympians whose medals are all gold. She was the only American swimmer to be inducted into the International Swimming Hall of Fame in 2007 and was inducted into the Olympic Hall of Fame in 2008.
In addition to her Olympic accomplishments, Van Dyken won several world titles and set numerous American and world records. Her success in swimming made her an instant celebrity and earned her many awards and accolades, including her feature on a Wheaties cereal box and in the popular “Got Milk” ad campaign. She was named an Associated Press “Female Athlete of the Year,” an ESPN “ESPY Female Athlete of the Year,” and one of the “25 Most Influential Females in Sport” by Women's Sports and Fitness magazine.
She was also featured as one of Glamour magazine’s Top 10 Women of the Year and has graced the cover of USA Today, Newsweek, Time, Swimming World magazine, and Sports Illustrated, among many others.
Following her retirement from swimming in 2000, Van Dyken has been a disc jockey on a sports radio show, served as the sideline reporter for the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos football teams, and played in the award-winning stage-play the Vagina Monologues. Her non-profit, the Amy Van Dyken Foundation, improves the lives of people with spinal cord injuries with initiatives such as wheels for kids and providing the latest news in spinal cord injury research.
Topics
The Will to Win: Overcoming the "Impossible"
Since childhood, Amy Van Dyken’s mantra has been “Who are you to tell me what I can and cannot do?” A six-time Olympic gold medal winner, she was already a role model for underdogs everywhere with her debilitating asthma that had her dragged from the pool during several practices and her potentially career-ending shoulder surgeries that occurred between her first and second Olympics.
But it was her life-threatening spinal cord injury in an ATV accident in 2014, that put her perseverance to the test. With little hope of surviving, and none that she would ever walk again, Amy did survive, and she did walk again. “I’m alive because I’m an athlete,” she said, following her accident. However, it was her “will to win” that saved her life. The same attitude that kept her motivated as she struggled to swim a single lap of the pool, set records, and win world championships, was the very same attitude required after the accident.
In “The Will to Win,” Amy Van Dyken discusses the need for relentless motivation and overcoming the limits and restraints others put on you — whether it be a coach, a friend, an adversary, yourself, or even your own body. Van Dyken speaks plainly on both the physical and emotional obstacles that she has endured, as well as the emotional coming to terms with her new life and learning to embrace it.
Reaching for Gold: From Asthma to the Olympics & Beyond
Olympian Amy Van Dyken has made a career out of beating the odds, both in and out of the pool. At 18 months old, she was diagnosed with three different kinds of asthma that left her with only 65% normal lung capacity. At the recommendation of her doctor, she joined a swim team and stayed at it for years, despite her inability to finish a single length of the pool and her debilitating asthma attacks. But in 1996, she made the Olympic team and won four Gold medals. The record-breaking swimmer then fought a shoulder injury and two operations to win a pair of gold medals at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
In 2014, Van Dyken-Rouen suffered an ATV accident that severed her spine and in need of surgery with only a 20% chance of survival. Even though the surgery was a success, Van Dyken was still paralyzed from the waist down. Her life-changing experience would leave many devastated and depressed. But Van Dyken, grateful for her second chance, decided to dedicate her new life to inspiring others to grasp every moment and to not complain; teaching that this life is a gift and every day should be met with an air of gratitude. In “Reaching for Gold,” Amy shares her personal story of overcoming adversity and keeping a good attitude no matter the odds, and inspires audiences to look past their limits and reach for their own version of gold.
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FAQs
How do I book Amy Van Dyken for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Amy Van Dyken to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
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As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Amy Van Dyken's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Amy Van Dyken’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Amy Van Dyken in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Amy Van Dyken's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Amy Van Dyken's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Amy Van Dyken, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Amy Van Dyken's speaking fee?
Amy Van Dyken's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Amy Van Dyken's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
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Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Amy Van Dyken's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Amy Van Dyken as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Amy Van Dyken as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Amy Van Dyken's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
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Email speakers@caa.com for Amy Van Dyken's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Amy Van Dyken for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Amy Van Dyken speaking engagements.
Official contact for Amy Van Dyken bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/amy-van-dyken
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Amy Van Dyken.
Is Amy Van Dyken available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Amy Van Dyken speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Amy Van Dyken's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
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What events can I book Amy Van Dyken for?
Book Amy Van Dyken for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Amy Van Dyken customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
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Amy Van Dyken engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Amy Van Dyken can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Amy Van Dyken booking information and availability
Check Amy Van Dyken's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Amy Van Dyken for your preferred event date.
Book Amy Van Dyken keynote speaker through CAA
Book Amy Van Dyken through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Amy Van Dyken, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
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Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Amy Van Dyken for your next event.
Will Amy Van Dyken speak at private events?
Yes, Amy Van Dyken speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
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Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Amy Van Dyken's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Amy Van Dyken?
CAA Speakers responds to Amy Van Dyken booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Amy Van Dyken?
Book Amy Van Dyken 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Amy Van Dyken pricing information?
Get Amy Van Dyken pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
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CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.