When elite athletes push their limits, Dr. Ravi Gill is the calm behind the chaos—the trusted performance doctor keeping champions in the game and at their peak. From Premier League stars to world heavyweight boxers, Dr. Gill has spent the past decade in the high-stakes world of elite sport, specializing in recovery, injury prevention, and the science of longevity.

Fresh off a UEFA Europa League victory with Tottenham Hotspur, Dr. Gill brings his playbook to TEDSports — sharing the secrets of recovery, resilience, and what it takes to stay at the top when the stakes are highest.

When greatness is on the line, every bit counts—and he’s the one who helps deliver it.

When elite athletes push their limits, Dr. Ravi Gill is the calm behind the chaos—the trusted performance doctor keeping champions in the game and at their peak. From Premier League stars to world heavyweight boxers, Dr. Gill has spent the past decade in the high-stakes world of elite sport, specializing in recovery, injury prevention, and the science of longevity.

Fresh off a UEFA Europa League victory with Tottenham Hotspur, Dr. Gill brings his playbook to TEDSports — sharing the secrets of recovery, resilience, and what it takes to stay at the top when the stakes are highest.

When greatness is on the line, every bit counts—and he’s the one who helps deliver it.

Kate Johnson knows how to pull in perfect rhythm—whether rowing for an Olympic medal, leading global marketing strategy at Google, or navigating life’s toughest currents with courage.

An Olympic medalist and World Champion rower, Kate helped end a 20-year drought for Team USA’s Women’s 8+ in Athens 2004, launching an era of dominance that reshaped the sport. But her greatest victories have come off the water—as a cancer survivor, executive leader, and fierce advocate for women in sport and society.

Now Google’s Global Marketing Director, Sports & Entertainment, Kate steers how one of the world’s biggest brands connects with people and culture through sport. She’s been named Adweek’s Most Powerful Women in Sports and WISE’s Woman of the Year—and her leadership has been spotlighted in Forbes, ESPN, The Athletic, and beyond.

At TEDSports, Kate shares a bold vision to influence search engines and AI models to design technology that opens doors for the next generation of women and girls. Because when the playing field is truly level, the whole world wins.

Few have run a race quite like Sam Ramsamy. From fighting apartheid with a whistle and a mission to leading South Africa’s historic return to the Olympic Games, Ramsamy has spent a lifetime proving that sport isn’t just about medals—it’s about meaning.

As the founding President of the National Olympic Committee of South Africa, he led the nation’s first post-apartheid team to Barcelona 1992, helping write a new chapter for sport and society. A former teacher, anti-apartheid activist, and author of Apartheid: The Real Hurdle, he’s dedicated his life to removing barriers—on and off the field. He was a member of the committee responsible for the inauguration of Nelson Mandela as South Africa’s First Democratically Elected President.

Ramsamy has been awarded Honorary Doctorates from universities in Canada and the United Kingdom. He is presently an Honorary Fellow of Roehampton College of the University of Surrey. He is the recipient of the national Order of Ikamanga and is South Africa’s Ambassador for Tourism.

Now an Honorary Member of the International Olympic Committee, 1st Vice President of World Aquatics, Ramsamy continues to advocate for fairness, dignity, and unity in global sport. His journey is a masterclass in perseverance—and proof that some of the strongest athletes may exist off the field.

At TEDSports, he shares the torch of truth, legacy, and transformation—because real winning is in how sport moves humanity forward.

Troy Vincent, Sr. serves as Executive Vice President of Football Operations for the NFL, bringing 30+ years of leadership from the locker room to league headquarters. A five-time Pro Bowler and College Football Hall of Famer, Troy has always played the long game—rooted in integrity, service, and excellence.

Today, he’s not just moving the chains—he’s moving the sport forward. As co-chair of Vision28 group spearheading efforts to establish flag football as an Olympic sport, he is instrumental in global growth of American football.

Within the NFL, he drives initiatives that protect players, raise the bar for excellence, and harnesses the power of football to create meaningful, lasting change.

Off the field, Troy and his wife, Tommi, are tackling one of society’s toughest opponents—domestic and gender-based violence. Through the Vincent Commission and their Love Thy Neighbor Foundation, they’re rewriting the playbook for prevention, healing, and policy reform. Their rallying cry—Leadership Over Violence—is being heard in locker rooms, boardrooms, and classrooms across the country.

The only NFL player to receive both the Walter Payton Man of the Year and Byron Whizzer White awards, Troy’s legacy is about more than stats—it’s about impact. He’s been honored by the Sports Business Journal, Savoy Magazine, and the National Jefferson Awards (considered the Nobel Prize for extraordinary public service) for public service, proving that true greatness isn’t just measured in yards gained—but in lives changed.

At TEDSports, Troy brings the courage to speak truth, the vision to spark change, and the heart of a true MVP: Most Valuable Purpose.

As Chief Operating Officer and Director of Sport Science at ai.io, Richard ("Rich") Felton-Thomas is on a mission to make elite sport smarter, fairer, and more accessible. With over 15 years of experience in sports biomechanics, performance analytics, and technology strategy, he's the architect behind AI-powered platforms that are leveling the playing field—literally and digitally.

At ai.io, Rich leads the development of two game-changing platforms:

• aiScout – a revolutionary mobile app that allows athletes anywhere to showcase their skills, complete standardized assessments, and get scouted—all through their smartphone.
• aiLab – a high-performance ecosystem blending biomechanics, physiology, cognition, and machine learning into advanced athlete testing used by top-tier teams.

Rich's playbook combines computer vision, human movement science, and AI to transform how talent is discovered and developed. His work supports major players across the sports world—including Chelsea FC, Major League Soccer, and the International Olympic Committee—and extends into performance innovation for military, healthcare, and national health systems.

At TEDSports, Rich brings a bold vision: a world where potential isn't defined by postcode, and where data-driven equity gives every athlete their shot at greatness.

Born in Cameroon and now based in Bolton, UK, this trailblazing boxer’s journey began in 2017 and has since transformed into a global symbol of strength, identity, and purpose. In 2024, she made history at the Paris Olympic Games as the first-ever refugee to win an Olympic medal—claiming bronze in the 75kg category and etching her name into the record books.

But her fight has never been confined to the ring. A fierce advocate for refugees, the LGBTQIA+ community, and the Black community, she uses her platform to champion representation and resilience. Her story is one of grit, pride, and unstoppable courage—and it continues to inspire young people across the UK and beyond.

Honored with accolades such as Sporting Equals Sportswoman of the Year, Metro Pride Sports Hero of the Year, and the British Diversity Award for Athlete Powering Positive Change, she brings both muscle and mission to everything she does.

Now stepping into the professional boxing arena, she continues to swing for something greater—proving that no matter your starting point, you can rise, fight, and spark change for a better, more inclusive world.

Soh Rui Yong (Soh) doesn’t just run races—he runs the show when it comes to performance, passion, and pushing limits. A Human Performance Coach, elite marathoner, and Guinness World Record Holder (yes, he ran a 2:39:57 marathon in a full business suit), Rui is on a mission to spread the joy of running and unlock the untapped potential in others—from start to finish line.

A 2x SEA Games Marathon Gold Medalist, 5x Singapore National Marathon Champion, and current holder of five Singapore national records (5000m, 5km road, 10,000m, Half Marathon, and Marathon), Soh brings elite experience to every stride. But he’s not just running laps—he’s making them count. Rui has coached over 100 athletes to new personal bests, proving that greatness isn’t reserved for podiums—it's paced with purpose and grit.

With a high-performance engine and an even bigger heart, Soh helps runners of all levels lace up with confidence, resilience, and joy through his initiative RunSohFast. His journey is a marathon, not a sprint—and every step inspires others to chase their own finish lines.

Catch Soh as he races forward, fuels dreams, and proves that in sport—and in life—records are meant to be broken.

Alvina Chen isn’t just changing the game—she’s rewriting the track. As the founder and CEO of Feldspar, a UK-based sports tech startup, Alvina is pioneering the world’s first sensor-enabled high-performance running track, poised to revolutionize how we experience live athletics.

Before launching into the startup world, Alvina, who grew up in Hong Kong, spent nearly a decade on the track as a professional athlete, competing internationally across the UK, USA, and Hong Kong. But it was her toughest race—a personal battle with myasthenia gravis, a rare autoimmune condition—that gave her a new lane to run in. Though the illness forced her to step off the competitive track, it fueled her drive to engineer a smarter, more inclusive future for the sport she loves.

With entrepreneurial grit in her DNA, Alvina now leads a global relay between innovation and tradition. She’s building not just a product, but a movement—where data meets determination, and every stride tells a story.

From sprinter to startup CEO, Alvina is proof that when life moves the finish line, you lace up and run a new race—this time, to transform the future of an entire sport.

Dr. Flores is a global force at the intersection of climate, innovation, and sport. A trailblazer in sustainable sports, she led environmental and legacy efforts as Head of Sustainability for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, shaping the Games’ pioneering Sustainability Indicators and redefining how mega-events can leave a lasting impact.

At the Brazilian Football Confederation, she turned disruption into opportunity—bridging continents and cultures by launching digital education for global football communities during the pandemic. Her leadership continued on the world stage when she was invited by the president of the International Volleyball Federation to co-author The Set Point, a landmark exploration of sports investment and innovation that quickly became a top-ranked Amazon Kindle title.

With a PhD from Università degli Studi di Siena and a master’s from Bard College, Dr. Flores has taken her expertise from the beaches of Rio to innovation hubs across Israel, Italy, and Asia. Her research zeroes in on ocean-based sports—surfing, sailing, beach sprint rowing, and open-water swimming—where rising tides are both literal and symbolic. Her upcoming book, Flipping the Script challenges the world to reimagine how climate change is transforming the future of ocean sports.

An open water swimmer, Dr. Flores champions the idea that sport can—and must—be a vessel for environmental resilience. She believes ocean sports are the hidden pearls of our global ecosystem: fragile, beautiful, and powerful storytellers for a planet in flux.

In the water or on the world stage, Dr. Maureen Flores is flipping the script—one wave, one word, one innovation at a time.

When it comes to impact—on and off the court—Tamika Catchings doesn’t just play the game, she redefines it.

A WNBA Hall of Famer, four-time Olympic gold medalist, NCAA champion, and 10-time WNBA All-Star, Tamika’s stats are staggering—but it’s her heart, hustle, and humility that have made her a legend. Known for her relentless defense and unmatched leadership, she’s one of the few athletes to ever earn a WNBA MVP, Defensive Player of the Year, and Finals MVP in her career. Simply put: she’s a triple-double of greatness.

But Tamika’s real victory is what she’s done after the buzzer. As the founder of the Catch the Stars Foundation, she’s been coaching up the next generation through literacy, fitness, and mentoring—helping underserved youth chase their dreams with the same determination she brought to the hardwood.

She also broke new ground serving as General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Indiana Fever, and her entrepreneurial ventures including Tea’s Me Bottled Tea continue to expand her impact. This Hall of Famer isn’t just a gamechanger. She’s a lifechanger.

At TEDSports, she along with Dr. Allison Barber will share the vision behind the largest sports and leadership campus designed specifically to uplift and equip girls and young women for athletic, academic, and leadership success.

Dr. Allison Barber is a visionary at the intersection of sport, leadership, and purpose. As Chair of the Marvella Foundation, she is leading the development of a groundbreaking youth sports complex in northwest Indiana—designed specifically to reimagine the future of women in sports.

A former President and COO of the Indiana Fever, Dr. Barber guided a high profile WNBA team through a period of explosive growth while drafting Caitlin Clark.

Before that, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Internal Communications at The Pentagon, earning the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service.

Dr. Barber’s leadership roots also extend into higher education as the inaugural Chancellor of Western Governors University Indiana where her contributions were honored with Sagamore of the Wabash and the Ogletree Deakins Business Leader of the Year Award.

At TEDSports, she along with Tamika Catchings will share the vision behind the largest sports and leadership campus designed specifically to uplift and equip girls and young women for athletic, academic, and leadership success.

Linda Rheinstein is a creative force and boundary-breaker who's redefining the rules of the game—literally. As the visionary Founder & CEO of Space Games Federation®, Linda is launching the world’s first competitive sports offerings designed specifically for zero gravity, where athletes—known as Astroletes®—compete in a whole new dimension.

A five-time Emmy Award winner and inductee into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, Linda’s career has always been about firsts: from pioneering cutting-edge sports tech at the dawn of digital media to now pioneering play in the cosmos. Her initiative Equal Space™ is more than a tagline—it’s a revolution, crafting a truly level playing field where physics changes, but fairness remains.

With a deep background in television, virtual production, and innovation with NASA and the U.S. Space Force, Linda brings together sport, science, and storytelling to ask a bold question: What does it mean to play when the rules—and the gravity—are gone?

At TEDSports, Linda will take us on an exhilarating journey to the next frontier of competition—where science fiction meets the next generation of sport, and where every leap is a giant one.

As President of Publishing & Esports at Riot Games, John leads the global charge in blending competition, creativity, and community. From the League of Legends World Championship to the VALORANT Champions Tour, he’s architected some of the most electrifying experiences in modern esports—unifying millions of fans from Seoul to São Paulo, and creating moments that transcend the game.

But his impact doesn’t stop there. Whether you're watching Arcane, vibing to a K/DA anthem, or cheering on your favorite squad, John is shaping a cohesive, immersive ecosystem where every fan touchpoint is connected—turning Riot’s game worlds into full-blown cultural movements.

Since joining Riot in 2017, John has spearheaded the evolution of the League of Legends European Championship (LEC), led the expansion of new titles like Teamfight Tactics and 2XKO, and overseen Riot’s foray into long-term global partnerships with brands like Kia, Red Bull, and Logitech. Prior to Riot, he held leadership roles at Microsoft, Sony Pictures, and Telemundo—blending entertainment, innovation, and storytelling on a global scale.

At TEDSports, John will explore what it takes to lead in the next era of fandom—where esports becomes culture, games become lifestyle, and the future of sport is reimagined, remixed, and Riot-led.

Angelo Pizzo is the screenwriter who turned underdogs into icons—and made believing the biggest win of all.

Best known for penning some of the most beloved sports films in cinematic history—including Hoosiers, Rudy, and The Game of Their Lives—Pizzo has spent a lifetime turning real-life longshots into unforgettable big-screen triumphs.

Born in Illinois and raised in the heart of Indiana basketball country, Pizzo’s own story is pure Hoosier magic. After graduating from Indiana University and skipping law school to chase a Hollywood dream, he honed his craft at USC before rising through the ranks at Warner Brothers and TimeLife Films. But it was his return to his Bloomington roots that sparked the creation of Hoosiers, a film now enshrined in the Library of Congress and consistently ranked as the greatest sports movie of all time.

From the grit of Rudy Ruettiger's fight to play one snap at Notre Dame, to the improbable World Cup win in The Game of Their Lives, and most recently The Hill and Someone Saved My Life, Pizzo’s stories remind us that the scoreboard never tells the full story—and that the heart of sport lies in its humanity.

With a career that has earned him induction into the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame, the National Italian American Sports Hall of Fame, and honors like the Sagamore of the Wabash, Pizzo has proven that the right story, told at the right time, can lift communities, fuel dreams, and leave a legacy far beyond the final whistle.

Angelo Pizzo doesn’t just write about game-winning moments—he creates them. And for every underdog with a dream, his stories whisper the same message: you were meant to play.

As Executive Director of the International Golf Federation (IGF), he’s the driving force behind golf’s historic return to the Olympic stage after a 96-year hiatus. From Rio 2016 to Paris 2024 and now looking ahead to LA28—with a brand-new mixed team event in the lineup—Antony has helped reshape the future of the sport one stroke at a time.

Headquartered on the shores of Lake Geneva in Lausanne, Switzerland, the IGF stands as golf’s official representative in the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Since stepping into the role in 2010, Antony has led global efforts to promote golf as an Olympic sport, expand its international footprint, and ensure it’s no longer just a game of tradition—but of transformation.

Before teeing off at the IGF, Antony served as Head of Olympic Games Coordination, Operations & Services for the International Olympic Committee, where he kept the Games on course across multiple continents. His Olympic journey began in Atlanta 1996, grew in Sydney 2000, and hasn’t slowed since.

A master of navigating fairways, frameworks, and federations, Antony blends a deep respect for tradition, a keen eye for innovation, and a steady hand through disruption. He’s not just keeping golf in the Games—he’s helping it evolve with every round.

Whether he’s crafting Olympic formats or shaping the future of international sport, Antony Scanlon reminds us: if you want to move the game forward, you’ve got to think beyond the clubhouse.

Tom Farrey is founder of Project Play, the award-winning initiative of the Aspen Institute's Sports & Society Program which builds healthy communities through sports. He works with many of the leading organizations in sports to get and keep more children playing. He authored the seminal book on youth sports in the U.S., "Game On: The All-American to Make Champions of Our Children," and won many of the highest honors in journalism at ESPN. Raised in South Florida, Tom joined The Seattle Times after college where he covered the NBA and NFL and became the first paper's first sports investigative reporter. In the 1990s, he joined the internet startup that would help create what became ESPN.com. He then helped build the reputation of ESPN's long-form journalism show Outside the Lines, winning Emmys and an Alfred I. duPont/Columbia University Award -- ESPN's first. In 2011, Tom joined the Aspen Institute to launch the Sports & Society Program, the mission of which is to convene leaders, facilitate dialogue and help sport serve the public interest. Project Play focuses on the base of our ecosystem and is a response to Game On, which then-New York Times columnist Robert Lipsyte called the “Silent Spring of sports: the book that launches a movement to protect a natural resource. In this case, our children.” That movement became Project Play, now a community of 20,000+ leaders and the backbone for 63X30, an industry-led call to action to help the U.S. achieve the public health goal of 63% youth playing sports by 2030. Foundations, corporations, and governments working with Project Play have unlocked $115M+ in grants, and 500+ organizations and cities have endorsed its Children's Bill of Rights in Sports, a set of human rights principles.

Jennifer Crank’s journey in dog agility began with a leash, a Sheltie, and a dream. She earned her first agility title at age seven, and by 17, she was already competing on the world stage. With her Sheltie Guess, Jennifer represented Team USA at the FCI Agility World Championship three times, bringing home a silver and bronze individual medal—setting the tone for a career defined by both precision and passion.

Since then, Jennifer has become one of the most decorated competitors in U.S. agility history. From Westminster to World Championships, she’s won nearly every major title across organizations—including multiple overall medals on the international stage, a feat no other American has accomplished across three different dogs. Her Sheltie Bee and Border Collie P!nk have become household names in agility, breaking records and redefining what’s possible in the ring.

But Jennifer’s influence goes far beyond the podium.

In 2010, she launched IncrediPAWS Dog Agility in Ohio, building not just a business, but a community. As a world-class instructor, she’s helped handlers and dogs of all levels find their rhythm, overcome challenges, and experience those unforgettable “lightbulb moments” of connection.

She’s coached Team USA, competed while pregnant at international events, and inspired thousands through her fierce competitiveness, fearless teaching, and full-hearted commitment to the sport.

At TEDSports, Jennifer brings the ultimate lesson from the agility course: that the real win isn’t just in running fast—it’s in building trust, mastering teamwork, and celebrating every joyful jump along the way.

Warren Keller is calling the plays—and changing the game—for Deaf and hard of hearing athletes across the nation.

As Athletic Director at Gallaudet University, the world’s only university dedicated to Deaf and hard of hearing students, Warren is leading the charge to ensure sports are heard, felt, and experienced on every level. A proud Bison and two-sport athlete himself, Keller knows the power of sport to build confidence, break barriers, and bring communities together—on and off the field.

From launching school sports in Arizona to leading a nationally celebrated football team at California School for the Deaf – Fremont, Keller has built a career rooted in equity, access, and bold leadership.

Now at Gallaudet, he’s raising the bar—and the scoreboard—by expanding varsity and club sports, championing DeafSpace design in athletics, and embracing innovation like 5G helmet technology to improve on-field communication. His forward-thinking vision has earned national headlines and put Gallaudet at the forefront of adaptive sports innovation.

But Keller’s greatest win? Creating a culture where Deaf student-athletes don’t just participate—they compete, connect, and lead.

At TEDSports, Warren will share how building inclusive systems, elevating Deaf voices, and investing in creative tech solutions can help every athlete feel seen, supported, and ready to make some noise—in their own way.

From moguls to marketing and touchdowns to tech boards, Jeremy Bloom has never stayed in just one lane—he’s carved new ones.

The only athlete ever to ski in the Winter Olympics while being drafted into the NFL, Jeremy has made a career of going full speed ahead—no matter the arena. At just 15, he qualified for the U.S. Ski Team, becoming the youngest male freestyle skier to do so. He went on to become a 3x World Champion, 2x Olympian, and 11x World Cup Gold Medalist, and the youngest freestyle skier to be inducted in the U.S. Skiing Hall of Fame.

Then he swapped skis for cleats—earning All-American honors at the University of Colorado and getting drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles before finishing his football career with the Pittsburgh Steelers. He has since been a College Football and Olympic Sports Television Analyst and has worked for ESPN, Fox, NBC and The Pac-12 Network. Whether charging down a mountain or a sideline, Jeremy always played to win.

But his most meaningful victories? They came off the field. Inspired by his grandmother, he founded and chairs Wish of a Lifetime, a nonprofit that has granted thousands of wishes to adults 80+, 90+ 100+ across all 50 states.

Jeremy co-founded Integrate, a marketing tech company that reached a nine-figure acquisition and helped redefine the digital playbook for enterprise marketers.

Now, as CEO of X Games, Jeremy is once again changing the game—introducing new sports disciplines, expanding global reach, and launching innovations like AI-powered judging and the XGL (X Games League), a team-based format set to debut in 2026.

At TEDSports, Jeremy will share more about his innovations and using AI to remove subjectivity in sports — and how you don’t have to pick just one mountain to climb.

Sarah Styles is one of the most powerful voices in the global movement for gender equality in sport—a leader whose work is reshaping not just how women and girls play, lead, and thrive in sport, but how entire systems evolve.

From the playing fields of rural Australia to the boardrooms of major sporting bodies, Sarah brings a rare blend of financial expertise, policy insight, and lived experience to the table. Recruited from investment banking in 2014, she became Cricket Australia’s first-ever Head of Female Engagement, a landmark role that broke barriers and opened doors for women across every level of the game.

In 2021, she was appointed Director of Victoria’s Office for Women in Sport and Recreation—the only government office of its kind in Australia. Under her leadership, the Office became a national model for bold, evidence-based strategies that drive equity from grassroots clubs to the largest stadiums, and from change rooms to boardrooms.

But Sarah’s impact extends beyond titles and policy. She is a mentor, advocate, and change agent, empowering future leaders while challenging the status quo with conviction and compassion.

At TEDSports, Sarah will share why true progress means creating a world where roles like hers are no longer needed—and how sport can be the most powerful catalyst we have for building a fairer, more inclusive future.

Tim Chase is the founder and CEO of Striver Technologies, a groundbreaking platform revolutionizing how athletes, creators, and fans connect online. Born from a simple but powerful belief—that when abuse is removed, the true spirit of sport can shine—Striver uses AI-driven moderation to create an abuse-free space where authentic engagement thrives.

By protecting athletes and fostering respect, Striver has unlocked higher engagement than traditional platforms, proving that safety fuels connection. Its innovative features, like Spotlight, empower players to elevate fan content, turning interactions into meaningful moments that celebrate community and shared passion.

Tim’s mission is deeply personal: to give footballers, female athletes, and creators the confidence to engage without fear and to shift digital culture from toxicity to positivity. With legends like Roberto Carlos and Gilberto Silva, and current stars like Harry Maguire championing the platform, Striver is leading a movement to reimagine the fan-athlete relationship for a new era.

At TEDSports, Tim shares his vision of a world where sport’s most powerful connections—between players and fans—are built not on clicks, but on respect, inspiration, and love for the game.

Proudly Filipino and based in Guam, STRAIGHTUPJED is a multi-talented artist whose journey bridges sport, culture, and music. A songwriter, producer, singer, radio host, emcee, and DJ, JED has spent over a decade shaping soundscapes that connect communities and tell authentic stories from the islands to the world.

His music has reached global audiences, with songwriting credits on TWICE’s acclaimed Formula of Love: O+T=<3 and a featured role on Maoli’s Music Overload album, including the standout track Lemon With My Tito. On stage, he’s shared the spotlight with industry heavyweights like E-40, Jhené Aiko, Fat Joe, and Tinashe—yet remains deeply rooted in his Pacific Island identity.

Beyond the studio, JED’s passion for performance started on the court as captain of Guam’s Junior National Basketball Team, where teamwork, rhythm, and discipline laid the foundation for his artistic career.

At TEDSports, STRAIGHTUPJED will share sets created specifically for the event that represent the island culture and voices and share how sports and music intertwine to shape identity, inspire resilience, and create soundtracks that carry cultures forward.

From a small town in Minas Gerais to the pinnacle of world football, Gilberto Silva has built a legacy defined by quiet strength, resilience, and purpose. As the anchor of Brazil’s midfield during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, he played every minute of the tournament, helping deliver his nation’s fifth title and etching his name into football history.

Gilberto went on to become a cornerstone of Arsenal’s legendary “Invincibles,” guiding the club through its historic unbeaten 2003–2004 Premier League season. Revered as “The Invisible Wall,” he earned 89 international caps, captained Brazil to Copa América glory, and inspired teammates with his tactical intelligence and unshakable leadership.

Today, Gilberto’s mission transcends the pitch. As co-founder of Striver, an innovative platform combatting online abuse and bullying, he’s working to reshape the relationship between fans and athletes, fostering respect and accountability. A passionate advocate for athlete mental health, he draws on his own journey to address the pressures of performance, identity, and belonging—helping athletes and young people find strength in vulnerability.

At TEDSports, Gilberto shares how sport can be a force for dignity and change, and why protecting those who inspire us is the ultimate victory.

Xavier A. Gutierrez is a visionary leader reshaping the business of sport. As Chairman and CEO of ImpactX Sports Group, he’s leading a bold new venture focused on acquiring, operating, and elevating world-class sports assets through strategic partnerships with private equity firms, leagues, and teams across North America.

A seasoned investor and operator with more than 30 years of experience in finance, strategy, and sports management, Xavier made history as the first Latino CEO in NHL history during his tenure with the Arizona Coyotes. His appointment marked a breakthrough not only in representation, but in redefining what leadership in professional sports can look like—grounded in innovation, inclusion, and business excellence.

He is also the co-founder of SUMA Wealth, a fintech company closing the Latino wealth gap, and founder of LiS: Latinos in Sports, a platform that amplifies Latino influence in the global sports industry through content, convenings, and career development.

A graduate of Harvard University and Stanford Law School, Xavier brings a rare combination of intellectual rigor, cultural impact, and entrepreneurial spirit to every arena he enters.

At TEDSports, Xavier will share how ownership, equity, and representation aren’t just buzzwords—they’re the foundation for building a more dynamic, diverse, and inclusive future for global sport.

Charlie Baker is helping rewrite the future of college sports.

As the current President of the NCAA and a former two-term Governor of Massachusetts, Baker brings a rare combination of public leadership, fiscal expertise, and firsthand athletic experience to the helm of college athletics. While governing one of the nation’s most complex states with a $50 billion budget, he earned bipartisan respect and the highest approval ratings in the country—thanks to his pragmatic, collaborative approach.

Now, he's applying that same steady hand to the NCAA at a moment of historic transformation. From the House v. NCAA settlement to the evolving landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL), Baker is guiding the association through a new era—one that puts student-athletes at the center, prioritizing opportunity, education, equity, and long-term sustainability.

A former Harvard varsity basketball player, Baker understands the student-athlete experience from the inside out. At TEDSports, he’ll share how the future of college sports will be shaped not just by policy—but by purpose, people, and a renewed promise to the next generation.

It’s time to “Play The Game!” For the first time ever, Paul “Triple H” Levesque steps into the TEDSports arena to pull back the curtain on one of the most powerful storytelling machines in the world. As WWE’s Chief Content Officer, he oversees Creative Writing, Talent Relations, Live Events, Talent Development, and Creative Services—driving the company’s weekly programming to over one billion fans across 150+ countries in 20 languages, and spearheading landmark initiatives like WWE’s recent Netflix launch.

A 14-time World Champion and two-time WWE Hall of Fame inductee (2019 with D-Generation X; 2025 as a singles competitor), Triple H rose from electrifying entrances in the ring to become the architect of WWE’s global recruiting strategy. He founded the WWE Performance Center in Orlando—an elite training ground that blends athletic conditioning, character development, life skills, and wellness programs—and pioneered the company’s NIL recruitment program to secure tomorrow’s superstars.

At TEDSports, Triple H will unlock the championship playbook behind WWE’s epic success: the psychology of peak performance, the art of crafting rivalries that captivate millions, and the universal power of hero-villain-redemption arcs. Whether you’re on the field, the stage, or the boardroom, you’ll leave with winning strategies to sustain fandom, fuel narrative impact, and lead like a legend.

Beyond the ring, Paul and his wife, Stephanie McMahon, co-founded Connor’s Cure to advance pediatric cancer research. A Boys & Girls Clubs of America Alumni Hall of Fame inductee and Concussion Legacy Foundation board member, he’s a proud father of three daughters—each proof that the greatest legacies are built with heart, purpose, and teamwork.

David Kwong is a world-renowned magician, New York Times crossword constructor, and master of mental misdirection. A Harvard-trained historian of magic, Kwong has captivated global audiences by blending sleight of hand with storytelling, puzzles with performance, and illusion with insight.

Through his acclaimed shows The Enigmatist and Inside the Box, David pulls back the curtain on how our brains are fooled—and why the principles of illusion mirror the strategies used in elite performance and sport. From the fake-out move on the field to the mental edge in the final seconds, deception in sports is no illusion—it’s mastery.

At TEDSports, David will explore how understanding the science of perception, distraction, and surprise can transform the way we think, compete, and lead.

Get ready to rethink reality—one step ahead at a time.