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Paralympian, Resilience & High Performance

Danelle Umstead

Resilience

Adversity

High Performance

Inspire resilience and high performance with Danelle Umstead, Paralympic medalist and adaptive sports pioneer. Danelle works with corporate and sports audiences to reframe adversity, build trust, and elevate team communication, delivering 3 Paralympic medals and 53 World Cup medals worth of credibility.

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Danelle Umstead

Albuquerque, United States

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Book Danelle

Albuquerque, United States

Starting from

Contact PepTalk for fees

Send an email

loading@getapeptalk.com

Give us a call

+44 203 835 2929

Enquire Danelle Now

Instant quote

•

No upfront fee

•

Vetted speaker

Danelle Umstead's biography

Paralympics

Athlete

Motivational

Inspirational

Inspirational Female

Sport

Blind

Winter Sports

After Dinner Sports

International Day of Disability

High Energy

Personal Development

Mindset

At a glance

3-time Paralympic medalist, 53 World Cup medals
First blind contestant on Dancing With The Stars
Competes blind at 70+ mph guided by verbal commands

Danelle Umstead is a 3-time Paralympic medalist, motivational speaker, and one of the most accomplished visually impaired alpine ski racers in the world. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at 13, Danelle lost most of her vision before taking up skiing at 29 — a decision that transformed her life. Competing as part of the U.S. Ski Team alongside her husband and guide Rob, she has earned 3 Paralympic medals and 53 World Cup medals. In 2018 she became the first blind contestant in the 27-season history of ABC's Dancing With The Stars. In 2010, following her first Paralympic medal win, she was also diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis — a challenge she met with the same determination that defines her athletic career. Danelle's story speaks directly to audiences facing their own barriers. Through elite competition navigated entirely on verbal trust, she has lived the principles of communication, resilience, and adaptive problem-solving at speeds exceeding 70 mph. Her keynote "True Vision" draws on vivid, authentic race audio to place audiences inside those moments. Audiences leave with a refreshed perspective on adversity, a practical understanding of trust-based teamwork, and a belief that their own impossible is within reach. Danelle brings a rare combination of world-class achievement and hard-won personal resilience to every stage — making her the ideal voice for teams ready to perform under pressure.

Topics, sessions and talks

True Vision: Racing Blind, Living Bold

Danelle Umstead takes audiences onto the slopes at 70 miles per hour, guided only by the voice of her husband Rob. Drawing on authentic audio from her Paralympic medal-winning races, she shares a story of vision loss, grief, and the unexpected discovery of her life's purpose. Audiences explore how trust-based communication, creative problem-solving, and an unshakeable mindset can turn apparent limitation into extraordinary performance.

The Guide and the Racer: Communication, Trust, and the Power of Partnership

Danelle Umstead races at 70 mph with no sight — guided entirely by the voice of her husband Rob. In this session, she explores how the communication system she and Rob developed over years of elite competition translates directly to organizational teamwork. She examines what true trust looks like under pressure, how to give and receive critical information in high-stakes moments, and what happens when a team’s communication is precise enough to perform in the dark. Audiences leave with a practical understanding of how elite trust is built, and how to replicate those conditions in any team environment.

Dancing Through Darkness: Redefining Possibility in Every Room You Enter

In 2018, Danelle Umstead became the first blind contestant in the 27-season history of Dancing with the Stars. In this session, she draws on both that experience and her Paralympic career to explore what it means to show up in spaces that weren’t designed for you — and to excel there anyway. Danelle connects lessons from sport, dance, and disability advocacy to help audiences build the courage to step into uncertainty, embrace radical adaptability, and bring their full capability to every challenge they face.

Why we recommend booking Danelle

Three Paralympic medals and 53 World Cup wins, achieved blind and while managing Multiple Sclerosis, give Danelle a credibility that few speakers can match. That combination of elite performance and lived adversity ensures audiences connect with her message at a level that drives lasting change.

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How do I book Danelle Umstead for my next event?

Email danelle.umstead@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you within hours to confirm availability and fees. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and a bit about your audience. As speaker agents, PepTalk can secure Danelle Umstead for commercial and corporate events, conference keynotes, leadership talks, celebrity brand endorsements & partnerships, personal appearances, and motivational speaking engagements. We can assist with enquiries about Danelle Umstead's speaking fees, availability, and booking process for private business functions, industry conferences, and team events. Please note, for media interviews, autographs, charity appearances, or personal matters, we recommend contacting Danelle Umstead directly.

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Previous bookers say Danelle Umstead connects well with audiences and speaks with clarity, confidence, and ease.

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