Donna de Varona
Two-time Olympic gold medalist, pioneering ABC sportscaster, and Emmy Award winner Donna de Varona shares lessons in leadership, resilience, and breaking barriers from a career spanning elite athletics, national television, and advocacy for women in sports.
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Donna de Varona Biography & Credentials
Donna de Varona is a two-time Olympic gold medalist, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, and trailblazing advocate for women in sports. A world record holder who made her Olympic debut at just 13, de Varona went on to become one of the first female sportscasters on national television. Her career has taken her from Olympic podiums to ABC’s Wide World of Sports, the halls of Congress, and leadership roles in some of the most influential organizations in international athletics.
A pioneer in sports broadcasting and a driving force behind Title IX advocacy, de Varona has spent decades expanding opportunities for athletes and women in leadership. Her experience includes helping establish the Women’s Sports Foundation, chairing the organizing committee for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and advancing major reforms in Olympic governance and anti-doping policy. She brings audiences a perspective on perseverance, leadership, teamwork, and creating meaningful change.
Donna de Varona is available to be booked for corporate and private events. Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group today to inquire about Donna de Varona’s fees.
Want to book Donna de Varona for an event?
Contact the Mollie Plotkin Group at (215) 995-0905 to book Donna de Varona for corporate or private events, keynote speeches, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances. Our agency will work directly with your organization and our keynote speakers to create an unforgettable event.
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Olympic Champion and Record-Breaking Swimmer
Donna de Varona’s remarkable career began in the swimming pool. At just 13 years old, she qualified for the 1960 U.S. Olympic team, already holding a world record in the 400-meter individual medley. Four years later, at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, she captured two gold medals, winning the 400-meter individual medley by six seconds while setting an Olympic record and helping the U.S. women’s 4×100-meter freestyle relay team set a world record.
Over the course of her swimming career, de Varona established 18 world best times and world records. Her accomplishments earned her appearances on the covers of Sports Illustrated, Life, and Look. In 1964, the Associated Press and United Press International named her the world’s most outstanding female athlete.
Breaking Barriers in Sports Broadcasting
Following her retirement from competitive swimming, de Varona entered the male-dominated world of sports broadcasting. At 17, she became the youngest and one of the first female sportscasters for a national television network, appearing on ABC’s Wide World of Sports. Her career would eventually include coverage of 17 Summer and Winter Olympic Games.
Working as a commentator, journalist, producer, and television executive, de Varona helped change how audiences experienced sports. She is credited with suggesting the phrase “Up Close and Personal,” which became a signature element of ABC’s Olympic coverage, bringing audiences closer to the athletes and their personal stories.
Her contributions to broadcasting have earned her an Emmy Award, two Gracie Awards, and recognition among the Museum of Television & Radio’s inaugural “She Made It” honorees in 2006.
Fighting for Equality in Sports Media
Her success came despite considerable professional obstacles. Throughout her broadcasting career, de Varona fought for assignments, recognition, and equal treatment in an industry largely controlled by men. After more than three decades of association with ABC, she challenged the network over alleged sex and age discrimination. The lawsuit was eventually dropped when ABC Sports rehired her in 2002.
Her determination to advocate for herself became part of a larger commitment to opening doors for future generations of women in sports media and beyond.
Champion for Women’s Sports and Athlete Rights
Beyond her achievements as an athlete and broadcaster, Donna de Varona has played an influential role in shaping American and international sports policy.
In the 1970s, she joined Billie Jean King in establishing the Women’s Sports Foundation, an organization dedicated to expanding opportunities for women and girls in athletics. De Varona served as its first president from 1979 to 1984 and subsequently as chairman and honorary trustee. Under her leadership, the foundation introduced major initiatives including travel and training grants, research programs, recognition events, and annual advocacy visits to Washington, D.C.
Advancing Title IX and National Sports Policy
Her work in Washington extended to protecting and strengthening Title IX, the landmark federal legislation prohibiting sex discrimination in federally funded educational programs. She worked closely with lawmakers to promote equitable access to athletics and helped shape the 1978 Amateur Sports Act, which restructured governance of Olympic sports in the United States.
De Varona has served five terms on the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and received presidential commission appointments under Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush.
Protecting Fair Competition and Athlete Welfare
Her advocacy has also addressed one of international sports’ most persistent challenges: performance-enhancing drugs. Working with General Barry McCaffrey, she helped advance the establishment and funding of the United States Anti-Doping Agency and the World Anti-Doping Agency, strengthening efforts to protect fair competition and athlete welfare.
Leadership Behind the Historic 1999 Women’s World Cup
In 1997, de Varona took on another major leadership challenge when she became chair of the organizing committee for the 1999 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Drawing upon her relationships across sports, business, media, and government, she helped build support for an event that became a milestone in the growth of women’s professional sports. Her work included engaging sponsors, encouraging extensive media coverage, and securing the involvement of President Bill Clinton and First Lady Hillary Clinton.
Empowering Female Athletes Beyond Competition
Her commitment to developing opportunities for women has also extended into business. Working alongside executives at Ernst & Young, she helped advance the Women’s Athletic Business Network, an initiative designed to help female athletes apply their experience in teamwork, discipline, and goal setting to careers in the corporate world.
Hall of Fame Honors and Lasting Recognition
De Varona’s accomplishments have earned widespread recognition. She is a member of the International Swimming Hall of Fame, the United States Olympic Hall of Fame, and the National Women’s Hall of Fame. She has received the Olympic Order, the International Olympic Committee’s highest honor, as well as the NCAA’s Theodore Roosevelt Award. In 1999, Sports Illustrated for Women included her among its 100 Greatest Athletes.
Her leadership has extended to organizations including Special Olympics International, the International Olympic Committee’s Women and Sports Commission, and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. She has also served as president of DAMAR Productions, a marketing, consulting, and events advisory company.
A Legacy of Leadership and Lasting Impact
From winning Olympic gold to breaking barriers in television and influencing national sports policy, Donna de Varona has consistently used her experience and platform to challenge established systems and create opportunities for others. Her career offers a compelling example of the impact that determination, collaboration, and principled leadership can have far beyond the competitive arena.