Olympic & Athletic Accomplishments

John Naber was America's most decorated athlete at the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, where he swam to four gold and one silver medals, breaking six world records.  Naber also led the USC Trojans to four undefeated seasons and four NCAA National Championships.

• Olympic Gold Medals:  100-Meter Backstroke, 200-Meter Backstroke, 400-Meter Medley Relay, 800-Meter Freestyle Relay (all world records) 

• Olympic Silver Medal: 200-Meter Freestyle

• Backstroke world records lasted for an amazing seven years

• 10 NCAA Individual Swimming Titles, (#2 all-time) plus 5 Relay Titles

• 3 AAU Kiputh Awards (high point scorer at US National Championships)

• First person to earn two individual Olympic swimming medals on the same day

Naber is a published author, having written three Olympic related books:

• Awaken the Olympian Within: Stories from America's Greatest Olympic Motivators

• Eureka!:  How Innovation Changes the Olympic Games (and everything else)

• Olympic Trivia Challenge:  100 Questions and the Remarkable Stories Behind Them

He also contributed to two books:

• The Power of Character:  Prominent Americans Talk About Life, Family, Work, Values and More

• The Gold and the Glory:  World-Class Athletes Share Their Inspiring Stories

The Olympic Trivia Challenge book is currently available at the United States Olympic and Paralympic Museum.

Naber has worked for all major broadcast networks and a variety of cable outlets as a host, expert analyst, play-by-play announcer or sideline reporter.  

• Networks include:  ABC, NBC, CBS, ESPN, HBO, FOX Sports and others

• Television and radio broadcasts for ten Olympic and Paralympic Games

• Host, Play-by-play or expert analyst for over 30 different sports

• Play-by-play host for ABC's Wide World of Sports

• On ESPN, host of three television series and one game show

• Sideline reporter for ABC's coverage of the Tournament of Roses Parade, each New Year's Day for over 25 years

John has been a Keynote Speaker, Master of Ceremonies, Workshop Facilitator, and Panel Moderator.  He has addressed over 1,000 audiences including many of the Fortune 100.  

Naber's various programs teach the values of goal setting, hard work, fair play, team building, problem-solving and communications skills.  Each speech is customized but popular themes include:

• The 8-Step Gold Medal Process

• Pursuing Victory with Honor

• Innovate to Win

• Awaken the Olympian Within Team Building Workshop

• Going for Gold Sales Improvement Program

Naber donates his time to countless charities and has led or served on the boards of various non-profit organizations, including his current positions as: 

• Olympians and Paralympians Relief Fund (President)    http://www.opr.fund

• Los Angeles Sports Council (Member of the Board of Directors) https://www.lasports.org

• The Koroibos Foundation (President) http://www.koroibosfoundation.org

• Ready, Set, Gold (Chairman) https://readysetgold.net

• Rose Bowl Aquatics Center (Past President, Current Member of the Board of Directors) https://www.rosebowlaquatics.org

In the past, Naber has served on many boards and committees, some of which include:

• United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (Member of the Board of Directors) from 2021 - 2024

• U.S. Olympians and Paralympians Association (Past President and long time Member of the Board of Directors)  

• 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee (Member of the Board of Directors)

• Character Counts! Sports Advisory Board (Member of the Board of Directors)

• International Special Olympics (Honorary Swim Coach)

• BA Psychology (University of Southern California, 1977)

• Honorary Doctor of Laws degree (Pepperdine University, 2003)

• 1977 James E. Sullivan Award (Nation's Outstanding Amateur Athlete)

• 1977 UNESCO/Pierre de Coubertin Fair Play Trophy

• 1977 NCAA Top Five Scholar Athlete Award

• Olympic Torch Bearer, 4 times (1984, 1996, 2002, 2004)

• 2002 NCAA Silver Anniversary Student Athlete Award

• Hall of Fame Inductee:  U. S. Olympic & Paralympic Hall of Fame, International Swimming Hall of Fame, San Francisco Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame, USC Athletes Hall of Fame, PAC-12 Hall of Honor