Connor Fields
BMX Racing Legend, Olympic Champion, Mental Health Advocate
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Connor Fields
Biography
Connor Fields is a three-time Olympian, two-time World Champion, and the first American to win Olympic BMX Gold.
As one of the world's all-time greatest BMX racers, Connor has represented the United States 50+ times in 25+ countries. 17 Connor became the youngest rider to ever podium a BMX World Cup.
However, his racing career was not always marked by triumphs. At the 2021 Tokyo Games, as the number one seed in his semi-final and on pace to battle for another medal, Connor went down in one of the worst crashes in Summer Olympic history. Based on previous results, Connor still qualified for the 2021 Olympic BMX final, but instead of competing in that final race, he fought for his life in an ambulance.
Connor sustained multiple injuries - broken ribs, a collapsed lung, torn shoulder and bicep ligaments, brain swelling, and four life-threatening brain hemorrhages.
The road to recovery took him through surgery, therapy, and intense physical and cognitive rehabilitation. Connor had to regain the energy to do simple tasks, strengthen short-term memory, relearn vocabulary, and even learn how to speak correctly.
He learned firsthand that Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) survivors go through physical, mental, and emotional changes throughout their recovery. Not only did he face the unbearable pain of being denied the chance to defend his Gold Medal, but Connor also has no memory of competing in his final Olympics – the moment he trained his entire life for.
Connor realized that, just like in training, life is not about being perfect or getting everything 100% correct. People focus on the last 1% when it’s the 99% that creates champions. It wasn’t the last 1% - a second Olympic Gold - that would make Connor a champion. The 99% of who he already was made him a winner.
After 11 months, he was fully recovered and cleared to ride again.
Determined not to let his final race define 22 years of riding, he jumped on his bike and rode again on day one to conquer the fear that threatened to keep him off the track. Understandably anxious to hit routine jumps, he took them on and beat the demons that chased him.
In his words: “Don’t let adversity define you.”
Connor continues to ride and coach BMX, with no passion for the sport, and lost to the worst Olympic scenarios.
The Today Show, Sports Illustrated, and Vanity Fair Magazine have featured his story. He was part of the Polo Ralph Lauren Sport campaign, has been a guest at the White House, and was nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award.
In his presentations, Connor opens the curtains to a rarely seen experience of winning sport's most fantastic prize and overcoming extreme adversity. He openly shares his journey of recovery and self-discovery with audiences and the practical applications of hard-won lessons learned.
Through authentic and engaging storytelling, Connor provides real-world strategies for peak performance, inspires resiliency, and motivates audiences toward tremendous success.
“No matter who you are, no matter what you do, every single decision you make matters.” – Connor Fields
Connor Fields
Featured Videos
Connor Fields
Featured Keynote Programs
GOLD Rush
One Olympian’s Wild Ride through Setback, Success & Survival
After suffering setbacks, keeping failures in perspective is critical. Learning from those setbacks and disappointments affects resilience.
But how do you shift your mindset after a setback? How do you rebuild faith in your organization, team, and yourself?
In his signature keynote GOLD Rush, Connor inspires audiences towards his powerful story of determination and resilience. As one of the world's all-time greatest BMX racers, Connor has represented the United States 50+ times in 25+ countries. At 17, Connor became the youngest rider to ever podium a BMX World Cup.
However, his racing career was not always marked by triumphs.
From “choking” at the 2012 Olympics to being “clutch” in 2016 to nearly losing his life at the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, GOLD Rush takes audiences on a roller coaster of emotions, peeking behind the curtain to the rarely-seen journey from overcoming extreme adversity to winning sport's greatest prize.
Connor shares with audiences his ride through recovery and self-discovery. Through authentic and engaging storytelling, GOLD Rush inspires resiliency, hope, and optimism.
Audiences will learn:
- that every single decision you make matters
- to never settle for anything less than your best
- to focus on what you can control
GOLD Standard
How to Bring Out the Best in Yourself & Your Team
On his 22-year journey to becoming a three-time Olympian, two-time World Champion, and the first American to win Olympic BMX Gold, Connor Fields learned what it takes to become a legend.
His corporate keynote GOLD Standard is the story of the ups and downs of setting and achieving the highest goals possible.
Connor encourages audiences to never settle for anything less than their best. He provides real-world strategies for peak performance, reminding groups that wanting to quit is normal; the key to success is to stay determined.
He shares what it took to get the best out of himself without demanding perfection. He chose not to focus on getting anything 100% right. It wasn’t the last 1% that would make Connor a champion. It was the 99% that offered him that.
In this presentation, Connor motivates audiences toward greater success in business and life.
He opens the curtains to a rarely seen experience of winning sport's greatest prize and overcoming obstacles. He openly shares his journey of success and self-discovery with audiences and the practical applications of hard-won lessons learned.
Through authentic and engaging storytelling, GOLD Standard inspires strength, confidence, and optimism.
Audiences learn:
- How to identify what you want to get the best out of yourself
- to focus on what you can control
- that every single decision you make matters
- Skills to improve performance in business, relationships, and life