Travels from Arizona, USA
Amanda Beard's speaking fee falls within range: $15,000 to $20,000
Olympic gold medalist Amanda Beard has been making waves in and out of the pool since she burst onto the international sporting scene at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games at the age of 14. Her youth and charm captivated the press and her swimming achievements were inspirational in themselves, with silver medals in the 100 meter and 200 meter breaststroke and gold in the medley relay.
From that astonishing start, Amanda went on to a bronze medal in the 200 meter breaststroke at the 2000 Sydney Olympics, an individual NCAA National Championship in 2001, a world championship and world record for the 200 meter breaststroke in 2003 and her first individual Olympic gold medal in the 200 meter breaststroke at Athens in 2004, in addition to a silver in the 200 meter individual medley. She is a three time US national champion in both 200 meter breaststroke and 100 meter breaststroke and also twice in the 200 meter individual medley.
Away from swimming Amanda has had a highly successful modeling career and has recently embarked on a second career as a TV host. Alongside many appearances for her sponsors, she speaks at engagements for Breast Cancer awareness and encourages young swimmers across the nation to set themselves the challenge of reaching the heights she has achieved. Making a comeback to swimming during the 2010 National Championships was regarded as hugely inspiring for women and mothers in particular, and she has yet to rule out trying for another appearance at the next Olympics.
Amanda has published a very well received autobiography, In the The Water They Can’t See You Cry, about her painful teenage years, struggles with drug use and fight against bulimia.
Amanda Beard was just 14 years-old the first time she made an appearance in the Olympic Games and walked away as the second youngest swimmer in history to medal with one gold and two silvers. Over the course of the next twelve years she would be the recipient of eight USA Swimming National Titles, hold the FINA World Record and World Champion title for the 200-meter breaststroke, make three more appearances in the Olympic Games–accumulating another gold, two more silvers and a bronze–and serve as the USA Olympic Swimming Team Captain twice, thus carving her name deeply into the face of sports history.
Almost eclipsing her incredible athletic achievements, Amanda’s celebrity status has allowed her to enjoy immense success as a brand representative as well as a nonprofit advisor and has frequently put her in the spotlight as a model and correspondent for print and television media outlets worldwide. She has graced the pages of countless sports and lifestyle magazines and been a guest and host on numerous national TV shows.
Amanda became a first time co-author in 2012 with the release of the autobiographical New York Times Bestseller In the Water They Can’t See You Cry. She used the personal recount as an opportunity to share aspects of her life previously kept private and in doing so managed to connect deeply with a new audience. She currently shares her story of professional and personal triumph via motivational speaking engagements and passes on her swimming expertise via clinics and private lessons.
Amanda’s most recent entrepreneurial endeavor is as Co-Founder of Beard Swim Co., a learn-to-swim program with a philosophy that the ability to swim is one of the greatest gifts you can give a child. Keeping kids water safe is a mission that has become even closer to Amanda’s heart since having children of her own.
Amanda discusses her autobiography, In The Water They Can't See You Cry, Amanda describes the pain which her body issues caused her: “[cutting] was my way of healing myself, dealing with my issues… there was the part where I ended up cutting myself too deep and there was lots of blood… It was a great moment because it really woke me up and said okay, look at what you're doing, because… is this where you want to be?" Seizing on the positive aspects of her ordeals, she says what happened caused her to ask, " Is there something better out there, can you be a healthier happier person? It took a lot, obviously, to get to that moment, and a lot after that moment, but it really, like, rattled my cage. Sharing her body image issues in a way that is both brutally honest and inspiring, she says, “I ended up feeling like I was the most awful, ugliest human being on the planet, it was one of those situations where you look at someone like Robin Williams and you think man, this guy has it all, everyone loves him, and he wasn't feeling that, that's where the whole depression thing comes in, it's very difficult to understand and it's hard to reach out, because people think your life is so great."
Women’s issues of strengthening and empowerment are very close to Amanda’s heart, as is raising the awareness of breast cancer. She is happy to talk about her experience as a gold-medal winning Olympian and share her winning secrets, both for elite athletes and for the ordinary person who wants to get fit. Her career as a model allows her to give stimulating talks about fashion and style as well.
Olympian Aspirations & Transcending the Odds
Amanda Beard inspires audiences to face challenges valiantly, and to become the very best they can be. She discusses how hours of dedication needed to master any skill are worth transforming into pure joy. She’ll share what it takes to set high goals while believing in self to becoming a top-notch champion on life’s playfield!
Fashion & Fitness
This lively and enchanting presentation highlights Amanda Beard’s passion for living a happy and healthy life based on nurturing inner beauty that shines forth from within and how your personal brand can enhance daily living with inimitable fitness and fashion savvy.
Women's Health & Breast Cancer Issues
Amanda Beard actively campaigns for increased awareness of total fitness and wellness. As a world-class athlete, Amanda’s rigorous and disciplined training gives her insights on staying fit and healthy. Everyone facing the torrid pace of living today will benefit from Amanda’s valuable tips for healthy, happy and resourceful living.
“Amanda Beard’s personality showed at our event, as she was both intriguing and witty. Our students especially appreciated being able to interact with her after her speech.” – Manhattan College
Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *
Speaker rating
Comments about seeing this speaker live? (This field not required to submit a star rating.)
Name *
Email *
Currently you have JavaScript disabled. In order to post comments, please make sure JavaScript and Cookies are enabled, and reload the page. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser.
In the Water They Can′t See You Cry: A Memoir
In this candid and ultimately uplifting memoir, Olympic medalist Amanda Beard reveals the truth about coming of age in the spotlight, the demons she battled along the way, and the newfound happiness that has proved to be her greatest victory.
At the tender age of fourteen, Amanda Beard walked onto the pool deck at the Atlanta Olympics carrying her teddy bear, Harold, and left with two silvers and a gold medal. She competed in three more Olympic games, winning a total of seven medals, and enjoyed a lucrative modeling career on the side. At one point, she was the most downloaded female athlete on the Internet.
Yet despite her astonishing career and sex-symbol status, Amanda felt unworthy of all her success. Unaware that she was suffering from clinical depression, she hid the pain beneath a megawatt smile. With no other outlet for her feelings besides the pool, Amanda expressed her emotions through self-destructive behavior. In her late teens and twenties, she became bulimic, abused drugs and alcohol, and started cutting herself.
Her low self-esteem led to toxic relationships with high-profile men in the sports world. No one, not even her own parents and friends, knew about the turmoil she was going through. Only when she met her future husband, who discovered her cutting herself, did Amanda realize she needed help.
Through her renewed faith in herself; the love of her family; and finally the birth of her baby boy, Blaise, Amanda has transformed her life. In these pages, she speaks frankly about her struggles with depression, the pressures to be thin, and the unhealthy relationships she confused for love. In the Water They Can’t See You Cry is a raw, compelling story of a woman who gained the strength to live as bravely out of the water as she did in it.
Order Here
Call us / email us / check availability and fee for your favorite speaker.
