Amy Purdy is a world-class athlete, entrepreneur, and internationally recognized motivational speaker whose story of resilience and achievement has made her a global inspiration. After surviving bacterial Meningococcal Meningitis at age 19, which resulted in the amputation of both her legs below the knee, she embarked on a mission to redefine human potential. She successfully leveraged her personal journey to become the most decorated Paralympic snowboarder in Team USA's history at the time, earning bronze and silver medals in the 2014 and 2018 Paralympic Games.
Purdy’s determination to get back on the slopes led her to found Adaptive Action Sports (AAS) in 2005, an organization that was instrumental in getting snowboarding included in the 2014 Paralympic Games. Her impact transcends sport; days after winning a bronze medal in 2014, she became the first Paralympian to compete on Dancing With the Stars, inspiring millions by finishing as runner-up. Her unique blend of athletic excellence and boundary-breaking media appearances solidifies her as a master storyteller and icon.
Now retired from competitive snowboarding, Purdy continues to use her platform for advocacy, collaborating with the International Olympic Committee to promote sustainability, inclusion, and gender equality. She is a dedicated advocate for sports and its positive impact on society, championing its role in international development and peace at the World Health Organization Global Summit.
As a powerful keynote speaker consistently named among the top motivators in the world, Purdy travels the globe, frequently as the first woman to keynote for many major brands. Her nine-minute presentation, Living Beyond Limits, went viral after its 2011 debut, and she has been celebrated by iconic figures like Oprah Winfrey. Her presentations provide audiences with a practical framework for achieving goals that seem impossible, inspiring them to embrace creativity and the power of the human spirit.
