Introducing, Nikki Stone

Nikki Stone:
Speech Introduction

(Long Version)

At the Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Nikki Stone became America’s first-ever Olympic Champion in the sport of inverted aerials. What made this performance so unbelievable, was the fact that less than two years earlier, a chronic injury prevented her from standing, much less walking or skiing down a slope at almost 40 miles per hour.

Her tenacity and refusal to step down from a challenge brought Nikki back to the top of the freestyle skiing podium. This top spot was far from foreign to Nikki, as throughout her career she earned 35 World Cup medals, eleven World Cup titles, four national titles, two yearlong Aerial World Cup titles, and a World Championship title. She also became the first pure aerialist ever (male or female) to become the yearlong Overall Freestyle World Cup Champion.

In addition to her skiing endeavors, Nikki is also a Magna Cum Laude undergraduate of Union College in New York and a 4.0 Suma Cum Laude graduate of the University of Utah in the field of Sports Psychology. Her aerial retirement is less than restful, as she trains other Olympic athletes in speaking skills, hosts group skiing adventures, counsels aspire elite athletes in sports psychology, participates in numerous sponsor promotions for major national and international companies, and devotes time to charities such as “Right To Play”, “Make-A-Wish Foundation”, and “Breast Cancer Research”. You may have seen Nikki in one of her televised commercials or in one of her many television appearances on shows like Late Night with David Letterman and the Today Show. Nikki now resides in Park City, Utah and still remains very involved with the Olympic movement by sitting on eight different Olympic, Sports, and Philanthropic Committees. The majority of Nikki’s time is dedicated to encouraging and inspiring audiences around the country -- explaining in detail how she achieved success and they can do the same when they "Spread Their Wings".

Before calling Nikki up here, let’s take a look back at Nikki’s Olympic winning jump.

{3-Minute Video}

Nikki Stone:
Speech Introduction

(Short Version)

Olympic Winter Games in Nagano, Japan, Nikki Stone became America’s first-ever Olympic Champion in the sport of inverted aerial skiing. What made this performance so unbelievable, was the fact that less than two years earlier, a chronic spinal injury prevented her from standing, much less walking or skiing off a 12-foot tall snow jump that launches aerialists 50 feet into the air. In addition to her skiing endeavors, Nikki is also a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Union College in New York. Her aerial retirement is less than restful, as she devotes time to numerous charities, trains other Olympic athletes in speaking skills, hosts group skiing adventures, sits on 7 different Olympic and Sports Committees. Nikki now travels the world inspiring top National and International Companies like ours.

Before calling Nikki up here, let’s take a look back at Nikki’s Olympic winning jump.

{3-Minute Video}

Ladies and Gentlemen please join me in welcoming NIKKI STONE.