2020 & 2012 Paralympic Gold Medalist, NBC Sports Winter Paralympics Correspondent, Author, & Equality Activist
Mallory Weggemann Biography
Mallory Weggemann, a Paralympic swimmer, has been involved in competitive swimming since the age of seven. In 2008, a series of epidural injections intended to treat back pain caused by postherpetic neuralgia instead resulted in the complete loss of movement from her abdomen down, making Weggemann a paraplegic.
Three months after her injury at the age of 18, Weggemann chose to return to the pool. Her older sister found an article about the Paralympic Swimming Trials at the University of Minnesota, and with the encouragement of her family, Weggemann attended the meet as a spectator. Still adjusting to her new disability, Weggemann found her love for swimming unchanged.
In less than a year and a half, Weggemann began breaking world records, starting with the 2009 Can Am Speedo Para Swim Meet. Over the next four years, she broke 34 American Records and 15 World Records in the S7 classification and became a twelve-time World Champion. She won multiple gold medals at the IPC Swimming World Championships and a gold and bronze medal at the controversially reclassified S8 category during the 2012 London Paralympic Games. Weggemann's gold medal race in the S8 50-meter freestyle event, set in a new Paralympic record time, was one of the most memorable moments of the 2012 Games and captured the attention of audiences worldwide.
After the London 2012 Games, Weggemann launched a successful career as a motivational speaker while continuing her swimming training. Despite sustaining permanent nerve damage to her left arm in 2014, which threatened her athletic journey, Weggemann fought back with the support of her coach, Steve Van Dyne. She trained for the 2016 Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro and represented the United States at the delayed 2020 Summer Paralympics in Tokyo, where she won several medals and broke two records. Weggemann has been named to represent the United States at the 2022 World Para Swimming Championships.
Alongside her swimming achievements, Weggemann has been honored with the World Disabled Swimmer of the Year award in 2009 and 2010 and the USA Swimming Disabled Swimmer of the Year award in 2009, 2010, and 2011. She also won the Best Female Athlete with a Disability ESPY Award in 2011. In a significant personal achievement, Weggemann regained the ability to "walk" for the first time in nearly six years with the help of customized leg braces and forearm crutches. Currently residing in Eagan, Minnesota, Weggemann continues to inspire others through her public speaking engagements and her TEDx talk, "Triumph over Tragedy."
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Mallory Weggemann Speaking Topics
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Everything Happens for a Reason
In this touching and poignant presentation, Mallory Weggemann recounts the day she became paralyzed, her initial struggles to cope with her new condition, and how she soon realized she now had a platform to raise awareness for swimmers with disabilities. Weggemann shares moving anecdotes from her personal journal, including how she changed the life of a young girl who was also paralyzed
• an incident that allowed her to fully understand why "everything happens for a reason."
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Baby Steps: An Intimate Discussion on the Basic Forms of Leadership
Mallory Weggemann breaks down the pillars of leadership into a more simplistic form—baby steps. As she insists that the only way to take a daunting task, a looming challenge, a seemingly unsurmountable obstacle and conquer it is through baby steps themselves. In October 2008, Mallory found her own personal life was focused on change. Through her journey and self-reflection, she discovered that one of the greatest qualities leaders can present is the ability to adapt to change. Mallory’s story appeals to anyone seeking a genuine and, at times, raw examination of one young woman’s journey through grief to the top of the Paralympic medal platform, from being confined to a chair to learning to walk again. Even though her spine will never heal, her spirit is active, captivating and unstoppable.
Mallory Weggemann Videos
Paralympian Mallory Weggemann talks about her new documentary following her battle to become a Mom
She's a Paralympics champion, author and public speaker. Jason talks to Mallory Weggemann and her husband about their new movie, Watershed, and the...
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Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Mallory Weggemann 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 Mallory Weggemann, 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 Mallory Weggemann or any other speaker of your choice. -
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What topics does Mallory Weggemann speak about?
Mallory Weggemann is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, Christian, Christian, Disability, Health & Wellness, Human Resources, Inspirational, Leadership, Motivational, Paralympics, Sports, Sports Coaching, Sports Motivation, Teamwork & Teambuilding -
Where does Mallory Weggemann travel from?
Mallory Weggemann generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, 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. -
Who is Mallory Weggemann’s agent?
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Mallory Weggemann is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Everything Happens for a Reason, Baby Steps: An Intimate Discussion on the Basic Forms of Leadership and “You’re the Best, You Can Make a Difference and You Can Change the World”. The estimated speaking fee range to book Mallory Weggemann for your event is available upon request. Mallory Weggemann generally travels from Minneapolis, MN, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Tatyana McFadden, Katherine Reutter, Janet Evans, Jessica Long and John Register. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Mallory Weggemann for an upcoming live or virtual event.
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