Top Sports Stars Who Have Had Movies Made About Them

Sports is a natural inspiration draw for Hollywood. The stories of many athletes overcoming adversity on the road to accomplishment have graced the big screen. The top sports stars that have had movies made about them make great motivational speakers for any event. They are some of the most popular keynote speakers for a wide variety of corporate events, virtual events, and more.  

Rudy Ruettiger

Inspiration for the Movie Rudy

Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger is the inspiration for the 1993 movie Rudy, which is widely considered one of the top sports movies of all time. Rudy's story begins in Joliet, IL where the 5'6" hardnosed high

Mike Eruzione

Olympic Hero and Leadership Speaker: Igniting Winning Mindsets

Mike Eruzione is a living legend in the world of sports, an Olympic hero, and an electrifying leadership speaker. As the captain of the 1980 United States Olympic Hockey Team, he led his team to an un

Jim Craig

Legendary Miracle on Ice Team USA Goalie

Jim Craig was the goalie for the legendary USA Hockey team that beat the heavily favored Soviet Union squad in the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. In that game he stopped an incredible 36 of 39 shots on g

Vince Papale

Inspiration For The Movie Invincible

Vince Papale was the subject of an inspiring story out of Philadelphia when at age 30 he became the oldest rookie to play in the NFL. Prior to his professional career, Papale was a high school track s

Chuck Wepner

Real-Life Inspiration for Sylvester Stallone's Rocky Character

Chuck Wepner was a hard-nosed United States Marine Corp veteran who went on to have a successful career as a professional boxer. After leaving the Corps, Wepner worked as a bouncer while he began his

Jim Morris

Inspiration for the Film The Rookie

Jim Morris had a brief major league career, but the story of how he got there made it legendary. After numerous arm problems as a minor league pitcher, Morris’ career lay dormant for over a decade.

Bethany Hamilton

Professional Surfer and Christian Speaker

Bethany Hamilton is a professional surfer from the beautiful island of Oahu, Hawaii. Having grown up on the North Shore she has been a surfer girl her entire life. With dreams of one day becoming a

Michael Oher

Former NFL Offensive Lineman Whose Story Inspired The Blindside

Michael Oher is a former NFL offensive lineman. He is best-known as the subject of the 2006 book, The Blind Side: Evolution of the Game, and the 2009 Academy Award-winning film, The Blind Side. Both t