The Sweeney Agency

About Andrew Haley – Paralympic Swimmer and Inspirational Speaker:

Andrew Haley is a world champion and Paralympic swimmer who now inspires audiences as a talented public speaker. From his opening statement, believing is the first step in doing, Andrew Haley makes you realize that anything is possible. He delivers an emotionally gripping speech sure to make any audience realize dreams are achieved through sheer determination and making the best of what one has.

One October evening in 1980, six-year-old Andrew was at his family home in North Sydney, Nova Scotia playing with his twin brother. After falling and injuring his leg, his parents took him to the hospital. It was then they discovered that Andrew had bone cancer and it was spreading. In an effort to save his life the doctors decided to amputate Andrew’s leg above the knee. When he finished his treatments and was ready to leave the hospital, he was told the cancer was back in his lungs. He made it through that battle as well by keeping the faith that he would become healthy again. A year later, Andrew was riding his bike and developing a passion for swimming.

Andrew began training to swim competitively at age 15 when an aunt of his persuaded the Canadian national coach to give him a call. After a telephone conversation with Andrew, the national coach set up a training session, and neither one of them looked back.

Andrew’s first major competition was in 1990 at the World Championships in Assen, Holland. Later that year, Andrew moved to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia from North Sydney to pursue his swimming career with the Dartmouth Crusaders Swim Club. Over the next four years he continued to compete internationally while completing his Bachelor of Commerce degree at Dalhousie University. He was voted Nova Scotia Male Athlete of the Year for the 1994/1995 season. In 1996, the determined athlete won two bronze medals at the Paralympic Games in Atlanta, GA in the 400m free and 100m Fly.

His passion for both education and swimming led him to the University of Ottawa in the fall of 1997, where he enrolled in a Masters of Sport Administration program and swam for the university team.

In 1998 Andrew became a world champion, winning the 100m Butterfly at the International Paralympic Committee World Championships in Christchurch, New Zealand. Andrew was voted 1998 Swim Team MVP by his University. In 1999 he completed his Masters degree with an “A” average and moved to Calgary to continue his training at the National Sport Centre. This move paid off for Andrew as he won gold and a bronze in Sydney, Australia at the 2000 Paralympics.

After the 2000 Paralympics, Andrew set his sights on defending his title at worlds in Argentina in 2002. The result was bringing home one gold and two bronze medals. At nationals that same year, Andrew broke the world record in the 100m butterfly. Andrew competed at the 2004 Paralympics in Greece, the 2006 World Championships, and took home two bronze medals at the 2007 Para-PanAmerican Games in Rio, where he also met his wife.

When Andrew is home in Nova Scotia he finds time to speak to schools and businesses. He now lives in Toronto where he works for the Toronto Blue Jays Blue Jays Baseball Club.

What Andrew Haley Talks About:

Andrew truly believes that anything is possible if you believe in it. Achieving so much success has been the result of many goals set and achieved. Andrew is able to relate his approach to setting goals to any business setting and relate his theories on achievement to any circumstances. Brian Williams of CBC Sports once said, that is the thing about Andrew Haley, always giving 110% no matter what. It is this determination and dedication that has set Andrew Haley apart. Andrew will share his thoughts on winning as well on how to deal with defeat.

Andrew’s story will help you realize that nothing is impossible; and help your company realize that its never too early to start dreaming.