Danelle Umstead: Blind Paralympian

Danelle Umstead is a three-time Paralympic bronze medalist and one of the most inspiring figures in adaptive sports.

Danelle Umstead - Image 01 (November 6, 2026)

Quick Facts:

    • Three-time Paralympic bronze medalist, alpine skiing
    • First husband-and-wife visually impaired ski team to medal for Team USA
    • World Cup Overall and Super-G Champion
    • Competed on Dancing With the Stars (Season 27)

Formats:

  • Inspirational keynote presentations.

Audiences:

  • Corporate teams, executives, leadership groups, sports organizations, and audiences focused on inclusion and overcoming challenges.

Outcomes:

    1. Unlock the power of trust and teamwork to achieve ambitious goals
    2. Build resilience by reframing obstacles into opportunities
    3. Champion diversity and inclusion as a path to stronger organizations
5 min read
Reviews: (0 reviews)
  • Travels from: Park City, UT
  • **US Fee range: $10,001 - $20,000

Talent Services

Keynote Topics:

Danelle travels the world with her husband, Rob, as a ski racing team and motivational speaker. In her speech, How to do the Impossible Every Day, she reveals the 4 secrets to leading and empowering teams to overcome obstacles and go for the gold.

Talent Short Bio

Danelle Umstead is a visually impaired alpine skier, three-time Paralympic bronze medalist, and inspirational keynote speaker. Competing with her husband, Rob, as her sighted guide, she earned bronze medals in downhill and super combined at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games.

Her experience in elite sport provides a personal foundation for presentations about trust, communication, resilience, and shared responsibility. Danelle explores how preparation and close collaboration help people navigate uncertainty and work toward demanding goals.

Through stories from her skiing career, she encourages audiences to question assumptions about ability and recognize the value of supportive relationships. Her advocacy for inclusion adds a perspective on creating opportunities for people of different abilities to participate and contribute.

Danelle brings her experiences to corporate conferences, leadership events, sports gatherings, and programs focused on inclusion and personal growth.

Danelle Umstead | Paralympic Achievement, Trust & Resilience

Danelle Umstead is a three-time Paralympic bronze medalist and inspirational keynote speaker who shares lessons on resilience, trust, and working toward ambitious goals. Drawing on her experience as a visually impaired alpine skier, she brings a personal perspective to navigating uncertainty and achieving through partnership.

At the 2010 Vancouver Winter Paralympic Games, Danelle competed for Team USA with her husband, Rob, as her sighted guide. Together, they earned bronze medals in downhill and super combined. Their partnership illustrates the communication, preparation, and mutual trust required to perform in a demanding environment.

For Danelle, skiing is a shared endeavor in which individual skill and close coordination are inseparable. Following a guide down a racecourse requires clear communication and confidence in another person, alongside the ability to make rapid adjustments. These experiences provide a foundation for her conversations about teamwork and leadership.

On stage, Danelle shares the challenges and achievements behind her sporting career. Her story encourages audiences to examine assumptions about ability, remain open to different approaches, and recognize the relationships that help people progress. She connects the demands of competitive skiing with the uncertainty individuals and organizations encounter during change.

Her presentations explore perseverance without overlooking the importance of support. Danelle invites participants to consider how they communicate under pressure, respond to obstacles, and contribute to environments where others can succeed. For leaders and teams, her partnership with Rob offers a tangible example of shared responsibility and alignment around a common goal.

Danelle also advocates for inclusion and opportunities for people of different abilities. Her experiences bring depth to discussions about access, participation, and recognizing potential beyond familiar expectations.

Suited to corporate conferences, leadership gatherings, sports events, and inclusion programs, Danelle combines personal storytelling with reflections on performance and collaboration. Her message encourages audiences to approach challenges with determination, invest in trusted relationships, and consider what becomes possible when people work together.

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