Octagon Speakers

• Denise Austin
• Tracy Austin
• Natalie Coughlin
• Cindy Garrison
• Mia Hamm
• Andrea Kremer
• Jeanette Lee
• Ellen MacArthur
• Martina Navratilova
• Paula Radcliffe

Denise Austin

America’s Favorite Fitness Expert

Denise Austin promotes a sensible, realistic, and enthusiastic approach to fitness and eating. She works out only 30 minutes a day and never skips a meal! Her health and fitness philosophies have won her countless fans throughout the United States, from whom she receives more than 10,000 letters and emails a week.  When you watch Denise on television, read her books, or follow her videos, you can't help feeling like she's there with you cheering you on.  Denise has been named America's favorite fitness expert.  She gets the energy to tackle challenges and achieve her success from the gratification of knowing she makes a difference in people's lives and inspires them to feel better about themselves.

Tracy Austin

Hall of Fame Tennis Player and Broadcaster

Tennis prodigy Tracy Austin stormed into women's tennis in 1977 and set a number of amazing records as the youngest player in the sport.  As a former World No. 1 woman tennis player from the United States, she won the women's singles title at the US Open in 1979 and 1981 and the mixed doubles title at Wimbledon in 1980. Since retiring as a player, Austin has frequently worked as a commentator for NBC and the USA Network and commentated for the Seven Network at the 2006-2009 Australian Opens. Austin holds a compassion for the game and those who surround it. 

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...

Cindy Garrison

An accomplished outdoorswoman and host of “Get Wild with Cindy Garrison” on ESPN2

Cindy has been an avid outdoorswoman her entire life and has experienced more in her 34 years than most people will in a lifetime.  Garrison gives audiences the ability to see an environment that many could never see through her spirit and enthusiasm about her adventures in the wild.  In 1994, Cindy moved to Alaska with $80 in her pocket and used her creativity to become a fly fishing guide.  She founded Garrison Adventures International in 1997, specializing in booking travel to fishing, hunting, and skiing destinations worldwide.  Starting in 1998 she managed the largest hunting safari operator in Botswana, Africa.  She then founded Safari Anglers, guiding anglers in pursuit of Africa’s famed Tiger Fish.  She still runs the company today and was discovered by ESPN when she was exhibiting Safari Anglers in the states.  Cindy was asked to be the host of ESPN’s In Search of Fly Water in 2004 before she landed the roll of her own show.  She...

Mia Hamm

International Soccer Legend

Mia Hamm is an American soccer legend.  Following the 1996 Olympic Games, Hamm quickly became one of the most identifiable female athletes in the world.  She brought soccer into the forefront of the American psyche for both youth and adults, male and female.  During her decorated 17 year career with the US National Soccer Team, Hamm won two Olympic Gold Medals, a Women's World Cup, and was twice named FIFA World Player of the Year.  Perhaps most incredibly, she set the career record for international goals by a man or woman.  Prior to all of her international success, Hamm played collegiately at the University of North Carolina, where she led her team to four straight NCAA Championships. In addition to all that she has accomplished in the sport of soccer, Mia is also a dedicated philanthropist, author, and mother.  She runs The Mia Hamm Foundation, a non-profit, national organization dedicated to raising funds and awareness for families in need of a...

Andrea Kremer

Andrea Kremer is more than just a role model for women, being the first female correspondent hired by ESPN.  Rather, she personifies the kind of individual we should all look to as an example of a model citizen and a wonderfully successful business person.  Kremer exudes passion and drive in all of her vastly different, yet complimentary endeavors.  Whether it is supporting breast cancer research, which is one of the many areas Kremer is involved in, conducting exclusive interviews with the likes of Michael Jordan and Brett Favre, or spending time with her son, she is constantly practicing what she preaches by testing her physical and mental limits and making a difference in the world in any way that she can.  Kremer is a wonderful example of someone who has overcome adversity and attained success by staying true to herself and not succumbing to other’s expectations, but rather creating and abiding by her own. Kremer currently serves as the sideline and feature...

Jeanette Lee

Professional Billiards Player

Jeanette Lee is arguably the most recognizable billiards player in the world and was deamed "The Black Widow'' early in her career for the way she dominates her competition and plays in all black attire. Lee has been slated the winner of 17 WPBA titles and is known for her philanthropic endeavors. Lee has the ability to be a marketer's dream, as she attended over 25 corporate events in 2005. She has the talent and discipline to run a tournament under her own focus, as well as reach out to the community with her charitable contributions and appearances. She has her own downloadable video game for cell phones, has toured U.S. military bases in Europe to teach them more about the game, has her own DVD animated feature, hosted a TV pilot, and was seen on ESPN and ESPN2 for more than forty hours in 2004. Lee's strong will allows her to do it all, but is still down-to-earth and loves to help others in any way possible. "An absolute show stopper. She was the star at our U. S. Open party...

Ellen MacArthur

Record Breaking Single-handed Round the World Yachtswoman

In February 2005 Ellen MacArthur was welcomed back to Britain by huge crowds after sailing solo around the world in record time. In recognition of this amazing feat she was made a Dame. Ellen's drive and determination are awe-inspiring, thousands follow her race progress on the Internet and hoards of people flock down to see her off on a race. Ellen's record is a feat of mammoth endurance, speed and sheer physical and mental willpower in the face of overwhelming adversity.

Martina Navratilova

International Tennis Star

Martina Navratilova is one of the greatest players ever to step onto a tennis court. Even as she's pushing 50, she's able to compete against women many years younger. She came out of retirement to play doubles in 2000 and was back on the court and in better shape than ever. On her way to retirement in September, she picked up some grand slam titles and capped off her career by winning her 59th title by winning the mixed doubles final at the U.S. Open. These days, Navratilova is inspiring awe not only for her tennis, but for her amazing physical condition. She shares her diet and fitness secrets in her book called "Shape Your Self." "I was asked so many times by friends and media, how do I do it. And I realized I knew a lot more than I thought I did, and I really wanted to share and help people with that knowledge," she told co-anchor Harry Smith on the CBS program, The Early Show. "I've lived this for close to 30 years." Aside from looking great and feeling great, Navratilova...

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".