2020 & 2012 Paralympic Gold Medalist, NBC Sports Winter Paralympics Correspondent, Author, & Equality Activist

Minneapolis, MN, USA
Live Event: Please Contact Virtual Event: Please Contact More Fee Info

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."

BOOK Mallory Weggemann

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 01/08/2026.

Mallory Weggemann Speaking Topics

  • Small Steps, Big Impact: A ‘Small Victories’ Approach to Leadership

    According to Mallory Weggemann, one of the keys to leadership is to tackle a seemingly insurmountable challenge by achieving small victories along the way. While fighting her way to the Rio Paralympic Games in 2016 after suffering a debilitating arm injury, Weggemann discovered one of the greatest qualities leaders possess is the ability to adapt—particularly in the face of overwhelming obstacles. She then continued to apply her philosophy to her training following Rio, with an epic comeback including 3 medals at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympic Games.

    Outside of sports, she applies this resilience to every facet of life, from her training to her decision to learn how to walk down the aisle at her wedding. Through reflection and raw honesty, Weggemann teaches audiences how to celebrate small victories and to use setbacks as tools to develop teams.

  • Personal Stories: Finding the “Why?”

    Mallory Weggemann describes the day she became paralyzed back in January 2008 and her initial struggles to cope with the fact that her life had changed in the blink of an eye. After months of self-reflection, Weggemann began to find answers to her number one question—why? Committed to the belief that everything happens for a reason, she shares her emotional journey, including the debilitating injury that affected her 2016 Paralympics and set her on the path toward a 2020 comeback in which she won 2 gold medals and one silver. In this powerful discussion, Weggemann sends audiences on a journey of their own self-reflection as she challenges everyone to realize their own paths as she insists that no odds are too large to overcome.

Read More +

Mallory Weggemann Videos

Mallory Weggeman -"Limitless" Book Trailer

Mallory Weggeman -"Limitless" Book Trailer

Mallory Weggemann, the Paralympic gold-medalist, world champion swimmer, ESPY winner, and NBC Sports commentator uses her extraordinary story to...

Mallory Weggemann - "The Jason Show"

Mallory Weggemann - "The Jason Show"

Jason talks to Mallory Weggemann and her husband about their new movie, "Watershed," and the challenges they faced becoming parents.

Mallory Weggemann - "Jennifer Hudson Show"

Mallory Weggemann - "Jennifer Hudson Show"

Jennifer welcomes three-time Paralympian Mallory Weggemann and hears how the five-time medalist for swimming on Team USA persevered after...

  • How do I book Mallory Weggemann to speak at my event?

    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.
  • What are the speaker fees for Mallory Weggemann

    Speaking fees for Mallory Weggemann, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Mallory Weggemann are available upon request for live events and available upon request for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Mallory Weggemann, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Mallory Weggemann speak about?

  • 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?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Mallory Weggemann for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Mallory Weggemann for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Mallory Weggemann or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Mallory Weggemann is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Small Steps, Big Impact: A ‘Small Victories’ Approach to Leadership, Personal Stories: Finding the “Why?” and Grit, Resilience and Triumph Over Any Obstacle. 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.

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.
Please Select Event Budget
Please enter your message
Please Enter Your Name
Please Enter Your Email
  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP