Scott Hamilton

Scott has been successful in many areas of life — figure skating, entrepreneurship, philanthropy — but he didn’t get there by settling for mediocrity. Somehow many of us have fallen into the belief that competition is bad — that finishing first robs someone else of their chance to shine. What it actually means is we have committed to pursuing excellence. Whether Scott is earning an Olympic gold medal for figure skating, fighting his fourth cancer diagnosis, or starting a nonprofit, Scott is committed to pursuing excellence and living his days to their fullest potential. In this speech, he will inspire business leaders, entrepreneurs, and even parents and students to reject average and go for the win in every part of our lives — not for ourselves, but to bring the greatest possible good to the world around us.

True greatness can only be achieved by a fierce commitment to going after it with everything you’ve got, no matter how many times you’re knocked down. It means rejecting apathy and staying hungry — refusing to settle for less than excellence. Scott’s life can be defined by a voracious appetite for greatness. Despite the seemingly insurmountable roadblocks he’s endured, he stayed focused, rallying after every setback to take on the next challenge. Scott has an insatiable spirit when it comes to pursuing the best life has to offer, and he’s passionate about encouraging others to uncover the same attitude within themselves. In this speech, Scott walks audiences through the extreme highs and lows of his story — from his days as an Olympic gold medalist figure skater to his four battles with cancer — letting them in on the secrets of what it takes to cultivate that voracity of spirit and keep going, even when the obstacles’ shadows loom large. His kind heart, keen wit, and distinctly competitive mindset will inspire audiences to harness life’s most trying seasons to spark a journey toward something great.

Scott never lets setbacks become excuses. He understands he has a limited number of days on this earth, filled with hours that don’t carry over and can’t be borrowed. So he remains unquenchable, welcoming life’s experiences and seeking excellence without holding anything back. He lives every moment of every day to its absolute fullest, knowing his currency is limited. Scott knows this all too well, having journeyed through extreme highs like winning an Olympic gold medal in figure skating and deep lows, having already battled cancer four times in his life. Scott is passionate about sharing his story to encourage others to discover this unquenchable spirit in their own lives and use it to make a difference in the world. The lows in Scott’s life have fueled an even deeper faith in God and stronger drive toward impacting others positively, and through this speech, the ups and downs of his powerful story will motivate others toward the same.