Keynote Speakers

Anthony Robles

NCAA Wrestling Champion, National Wrestling Hall of Fame inductee, and subject of the film, Unstoppable

 

Born with one leg, Anthony Robles grew up to become an unstoppable phenomenon in NCAA wrestling, competing against able-bodied challengers and ultimately winning the NCAA Champion title. Today Anthony shares his inspirational success strategy—a limitless belief in self and the motivation to do things no one ever thought possible.

With a driven and charismatic personality, Anthony talks with audiences about how he succeeds in the face of overwhelming challenges and credits that attitude to his mother. From the time he was born, she instilled in him that he could do anything and overcome any obstacle that came his way. A symbol of perseverance, Robles offers his inspirational philosophy that courage, tenacity, and never giving up on your dream, will make you unstoppable—no matter how overwhelming the odds.

As an infant, all indications were that there was little hope of Anthony going on to live a normal life. Yet, his determination, even at a young age, turned those odds around. Once he focused his belief on pursuing success in a sport that so clearly put him at an insurmountable disadvantage, Robles proved to be an unrelenting force.

Steely determination, an unwavering commitment to sharpening his mental strength, and the ability to adapt his technique to win matches, Robles went from being the worst wrestler in the city of Mesa, Arizona to NCAA Division I Champion, a three-time All-American, and the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Outstanding Wrestler of the Tournament—all the while overcoming the disadvantage of wrestling able-bodied athletes. He was also inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Joanna Lohman

Athlete, activist, and author

 

Lohman is a former professional soccer player and member of the United States Women’s National Team. Over her 16-year career, she has built a platform for social impact and became the first player in Washington Spirit history to have her jersey retired. She is a human rights activist and teacher, and she serves as a Sport Diplomat, traveling the world and running programs in less developed nations that promote gender equality, conflict resolution, cultural understanding, and economic development. Lohman lived the first 21 years of her life as a straight woman and transformed into a gender nonconforming, androgynous, gay woman who has overcome devastating injury, defeat, heartbreak, and has traveled to over 40 countries. Through her personal journey, she has helped individuals and groups define their beauty by living an unabashedly authentic life based around deep-rooted acceptance and discovering a comfort in their own skin.