Champion Athlete & Disability Advocate; Chief Inspiration Officer at Special Olympics; Arthur Ashe ESPY Courage Award Recipient
Loretta Claiborne Biography
Loretta Claiborne is an athlete, advocate, and motivational speaker who has dedicated more than five decades to advancing dignity, respect, and opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities. Born with an intellectual disability and partial blindness, Claiborne has built a career as an athlete, speaker, and leader within the Special Olympics movement. Introduced to Special Olympics by a social worker, Claiborne has described Special Olympics as a significant turning point in her life. What began as a passion for running evolved into a multi-sport career that has taken her around the world and onto prominent stages in public life.
Claiborne has competed in and won 15 medals at nine Special Olympics World Games, met world leaders, and advocated for the rights of people with intellectual disabilities on global platforms. A seven-time Special Olympics World Games gold medalist, she is a runner, bowler, figure skater, and tennis player. Claiborne was the first Special Olympics athlete to run the Boston Marathon, placing among the top 100 women in consecutive years. Beyond running, she is a fourth-degree black belt in karate, communicates in nine languages including American Sign Language, and has received honorary doctorates from Quinnipiac University, Villanova University, and York College of Pennsylvania, becoming one of the first people with an intellectual disability to receive such recognition.
Claiborne has received the Arthur Ashe ESPY Courage Award. She is among the first persons with an intellectual disability to address the United Nations, where she spoke to world leaders about the importance of inclusion for those with disabilities. Claiborne was also the first Special Olympics athlete elected to the Special Olympics International Board of Directors. She has been named one of USA Today's Women of the Year and has represented Special Olympics USA in tennis at the Special Olympics World Games, winning gold in tennis singles and bronze in doubles.
Her life story has been shared through Walt Disney Productions' "The Loretta Claiborne Story," the biography "In Her Stride," and her memoir "LORETTA: The Finish Line is Only the Beginning." The Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery unveiled a portrait of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, depicting her with four Special Olympics athletes, including Claiborne. Claiborne serves as chief inspiration officer and senior advisor, athlete experience for Special Olympics, representing athletes worldwide and supporting efforts to ensure athlete leadership, voice, and experience remain central to the organization's mission. Her story demonstrates the transformative potential of sport, perseverance, and advocacy for inclusion within the disability community.
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Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Loretta Claiborne for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Loretta Claiborne, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Loretta Claiborne or any other speaker of your choice. -
What are the speaker fees for Loretta Claiborne
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What topics does Loretta Claiborne speak about?
Loretta Claiborne is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, Black Heritage, Disability, Influential Women, Inspirational, Motivational, Olympic Athlete, Running, Sports, Sports Motivation -
Where does Loretta Claiborne travel from?
Loretta Claiborne generally travels from York, PA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent. -
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Loretta Claiborne is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics. The estimated speaking fee range to book Loretta Claiborne for your event is available upon request. Loretta Claiborne generally travels from York, PA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Blake Leeper, Dewey Bozella, Erin Jackson, Jordan Chiles and Phil Ford. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Loretta Claiborne for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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