Speaker From
United States
South Portland, Maine, United States
United States
South Portland
Maine
Katie Spotz is an endurance athlete, charitable ambassador, author, and world-record holder. The list of accomplishments to her name is long, and includes five Ironman triathlons, cycling across the country, a 325-mile river swim, running 100 miles nonstop in under 20 hours, and a solo row across the Atlantic Ocean.
But this wasn’t just any row; when Katie arrived in Guyana, South America, after 70 days at sea, she set a world record for the youngest ever solo ocean rower and the only American to row solo from Africa to South America.
Katie became the 1st person to run 138-miles nonstop across Maine in 33 hours, raising funds for a clean water project in Tanzania. Most recently, Katie set a new Guinness World Record for the most consecutive days to run an ultramarathon distance in Run4Water. Her 341-mile journey began in Cincinnati and finished in Cleveland, Ohio, after running 11 ultra-marathons for 11 days consecutively to fund 11 water projects in Uganda.
KATIE’S NEXT CHALLENGE
In March 2023, Katie will embark on her longest run yet, as a comeback from ACL surgery. Learn more about the Run4Water, from zero to 200.
Katie’s story has been featured in The New York Times, CBS Morning News, CBS Evening News, Anderson Cooper 360, Sports Illustrated, Glamour Magazine, The Joe Rogan Experience, and more. Recently, Katie was named the Elite Female Athlete of the Year by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Throughout her adventures, Katie isn’t just seeking to make history. She is also raising money for safe drinking water projects around the world. To date, more than 46,000 people have gained access to clean water through her challenges and events, getting closer to creating a world where everyone, everywhere has clean, safe water. Give water today.
Katie is an accomplished motivational speaker and has inspired audiences ranging from school children to business professionals. She speaks with honesty, humility, and passion about motivation, goal setting, success, failure, risk-taking, overcoming adversity and holding onto faith, no matter how steep the odds. 100% of proceeds from Katie’s speaking further support the clean water mission.
Motivation
Inspiration
24 Hours
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Doug McNamara
07/17/2022 at 8:10 amKatie joined my team meeting when morale was low and working from home was wearing hard on some of us. She talked about her experience spending months in oceanic isolation and turning every hardship into a challenge. Her relatable way of engaging my team was refreshing and gave us a perspective that brought positivity to us when we needed it!
— Doug McNamara, Google
Mayo Bulloch
04/28/2022 at 11:10 amKatie Spotz spoke at Case Western Reserve University this past Fall to an audience of college students, faculty, and staff, and she managed to reach every single person there. Her commitment to a goal, her personal self-discipline, and her interest in making this world a better place resonated with all of us. Her presentation was both informative and inspirational, and after the talk, students lined up to speak to her and to get her autograph. It was clear that they really enjoyed her talk and wanted to know even more about her. Katie is a wonderful speaker—with an amazing story to tell!
— Mayo Bulloch, Case Western Reserve University
Robert Bartolotta
04/11/2022 at 2:10 pmKatie Spotz spoke as part of the Explorer Series .We have been inviting speakers to the museum for over 90 years, and Katie was our youngest speaker. Her program Rowing the Atlantic featured all of the stresses and strains of preparing for her epic journey, dealing with mile after mile of the Atlantic Ocean and then the realization that yes she did complete a world record journey solo at a very young age. You do become part of Katie’s journey. After Katie speaks you know there is much left for her to accomplish in her lifetime. Brace yourself, Cleveland’s own Katie Spotz is coming to your town and she is bringing the world with her.
— Robert Bartolotta, Cleveland Museum of Natural History
Seth Kushkin
02/07/2022 at 9:09 amKatie was spectacular with our entire St. Anne’s-Belfield community. Throughout her visit Katie spoke with all students from kindergarten to our Seniors. She shared messages and stories that connected with all age levels. She finished her visit with a visit with members of the school community and visitors from throughout Charlottesville. We knew Katie would have an impact on everyone she touched, but the importance of what she has accomplished and why it is so important is still spoken about on our campus daily. We look forward to staying in touch and becoming a part of the impact she is having on clean water throughout the world.
— Seth Kushkin, Director of Athletics
Brooke Weekes
09/20/2021 at 4:09 pmThe students were really inspired by Katie’s story and are anxious to hear about her upcoming adventures. They took away a message of how hard work, commitment and determination really can make a difference no matter who you are.
— Brooke Weekes, Carmel High School