Octagon Speakers

• Bob Bowman
• Michael Chang
• Natalie Coughlin
• Jim Lampley
• Apolo Anton Ohno
• Debbie Phelps
• Michael Phelps
• Paula Radcliffe
• David Robinson
• Peter Vidmar

Bob Bowman

Renowned Swimming Coach of Michael Phelps

Coaching the best American swimmer to Olympic greatness might not be easy, but it has been worth it.  Bob Bowman achieved great success at the international level as personal coach for the Olympic Legend Michael Phelps. Under the passionate coaching of Bowman, Phelps won an Olympic-record eight gold medals in the 2008 Beijing Summer Games, bringing Phelps' total to 14 Olympic golds overall.  Bowman's contribution to the sport has been awarded with the USA Swimming Developmental Coach of the Year and the ASCA Coach of the Year Award.  Not one to rest on his laurels, Bowman has already turned his focus to the London Games in 2012 and will surely have Phelps poised to continue his great success.

Michael Chang

International Tennis Star

Coming from the juniors as a 15-year-old, Michael Chang charged onto the international tennis scene setting numerous "youngest player records" and shocked the world by upsetting Ivan Lendl and Stefan Egberg to become the youngest player in history to win a Grand Slam event.  Utilizing tremendous speed and strong determination, Chang was one of the best counter punchers of all time and remained in the Top 10 in the ATP world rankings for several years in the 1990s.  Chang retired from the professional tour in 2003 but continues to play at the senior level. 

Natalie Coughlin

Olympic Swimming Gold Medalist

One of the most well-rounded swimmers ever, Natalie Coughlin combines power, speed and beauty. One of the poster faces of the 2004 USA Olympic team, Coughlin bought pride to her nation with her performance.  Coughlin left the 2004 Olympic Games as the most decorated female athlete, having won a total of five medals.  At the 2007 World Championships, the biggest international swimming event leading up to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Coughlin finished as the world’s most decorated female swimmer in World Championship history.  Coughlin’s success at the 2007 World Championships followed her to Beijing, where at the 2008 Olympics, she won an astounding 6 medals, a first for any woman athlete at the games.  Coughlin was also a recent contestant on the popular reality show Dancing with the Stars, which in its most recent season has been the 3rd highest ranked show on television. Coughlin wowed over 17 million viewers weekly on the Emmy award-winning show...

Jim Lampley

Emmy award-winning announcer, noted for Olympic and boxing coverage

A veteran sportscaster with twenty-eight years of network experience, Jim Lampley has covered nearly every major sporting event on television. The 2006 Olympic Games in Torino represented Jim Lampley's 13th Olympics, breaking ABC's legendary Jim McKay’s record for most career Olympic broadcasting assignments. Accomplished as both a studio host and play-by-play broadcaster, Lampley is known for his work as HBO’s blow-by-blow commentator for professional boxing, and as a contributor to the Emmy Award-winning Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel series.

Apolo Anton Ohno

Eight-time Olympic Speed Skating Medalist, Dancing with the Stars Champion

"At the Olympics, anything can happen."  For speed skater, Apolo Anton Ohno, he could not have been more right.  After three Olympics, Ohno became the most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian in history by winning the eighth medal of his now legendary career.  Ohno captured three medals in Vancouver and in the process passed former speed skater Bonnie Blair's previous all-time record of six trips to the podium. Ohno was one of the main headliners throughout this year's Games and has often been referred to as "America's Favorite Olympian" and the "Ambassador of the Winter Olympic Games."  Ohno continues to strike gold off the ice with Octagon securing a diverse range of marketing deals that include Alaska Airlines, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Nestle, Omega, Vicks DayQuil Cold and Flu and the Washington State Potato Commission.  When he's not winning medals, Ohno is heavily involved in giving back.  His charity work includes partnerships with the Ronald McDonald House,...

Debbie Phelps

Gold Medal Mom

Not your typical mother of three children, Debbie Phelps has juggled between raising her children, teaching, and social service work. She is recognized as an innovative, energetic, talented leader and master teacher with nearly three decades of education experience. She co-chairs and has participated in public service announcements for the “One Campaign” for the Harford County Boys and Girls Clubs of America. During her teaching career in both counties she held many responsibilities including, but not limited to, the following: department chair, team leader, acting content leader, and co-coordinator of a Summer Institute. Watching Debbie live through the excitement of Michael's eight gold medal races in the 2008 Beijing Olympics quickly became "must-see TV."  She exemplified what every American was feeling as Michael captured a piece of Olympic history.  JOHNSON'S ® Baby recognized Debbie's devotion to her children by naming her "Mom of the Olympic Game." Debbie has also...

Michael Phelps

Fourteen-Time Olympic Gold Medalist

Michael Phelps has been making waves in the world of sports since he was young. He broke Mark Spitz's 36 year-old record for the most gold medals at a single Olympics in the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic Games when he won eight gold medals. Already a sports legend at the age of 23, Michael holds several World Records in addition to his many other awards. Although he is young, Phelps has already had a lifetime of experiences—in the pool and out. He founded “Swim with the Stars”—the first ever Olympic Swimming Tour that travels the country to give kids the opportunity to learn from the best. He is also a national spokesperson for the Boys & Girls Clubs.  In December, 2008, Phelps released No Limits: The Will to Succeed.  The book has appeared on both the New York Times  and USA Today Best-Seller lists. Phelps is youthful but intelligent, successful yet modest, and understands the importance of following a dream. Phelps is the...

Paula Radcliffe

World Renowned Cross Country Runner

The world's fastest female marathoner, Paula Radcliffe is also one of Britain's most popular athletes. Radcliffe won the World Half-Marathon Championships in both 2000 and 2001, and the 2001 World Cross Country Championship long-course run. In 2002 she placed first in eight out of nine competitions, including the Flora London Marathon and the Chicago Marathon, at which she broke the women's world record. Radcliffe continued her success in 2003, when she defended her title at the London Marathon, shaving nearly two minutes off her previous world-record score.  Radcliffe claimed back-to-back New York City Marathon titles.  In 2008, she was also given the distinct honor of being inducted as a member of the "Most Excellent Order of the British Empire".

David Robinson

Hall Of Fame Center, MVP, Two-Time Champion

One of the top centers of his era, David “The Admiral” Robinson was a marvel of a basketball player and a respected figure off the court. A lean, muscular, 7-1 athlete, he was fast, strong and agile. In his first six NBA seasons he won Rookie of the Year, NBA MVP and Defensive Player of the Year awards, in addition to a rebounding title, a scoring crown, six All-Star bids, three selections to the All-NBA First Team and three selections to the NBA All-Defensive First Team. Robinson's lasting legacy was also defined by his status one of the pre-eminent philanthropists in all of professional sports. On March 23, 2003, NBA Commissioner David Stern announced that future winners of the NBA Community Assist Award would receive the David Robinson Plaque, with the inscription, "Following the standard set by NBA Legend David Robinson, who improved the community piece by piece."

Peter Vidmar

American Hall of Fame Gymnast, Olympic Gold Medalist

Peter Vidmar is the highest scoring American gymnast in Olympic history.  A member of the US Olympic Hall of Fame, Peter Vidmar won 2 gold medals and 1 silver medal in gymnastics at the 1984 Olympic Games.  He continues to contribute and serve an active role in the Olympics, as he is the Co-Chairman of the US Olympic Committee Summer Sports Summit. His motivation and determination helped lead him to medals in the Olympics, but also has served as a driving force in his everyday life.  Vidmar uses his experiences to help people realize their own potential.  Vidmar brings a lot of emotion and experience to his speeches; in turn making him an inspiration to any audience.