Windsor’s Danielle Campo Crowned #1 INSPIRATIONAL SPEAKER OF THE YEAR for 2024 at this year’s Inspirational Speaking Finals hosted by Speaker Slam

This competition featured 14 of the year’s best inspirational speakers from all corners of North America, including Starkville, Mississippi; Fort Worth, Texas; and various parts of Canada, all converging in Toronto for this prestigious event.

Paralympic champion Danielle Campo added another gold to her collection, winning the prestigious Inspirational Speaker of the Year title at Speaker Slam’s 8th Annual Grand Slam – The Inspirational Speaking Finals. The November 9, 2024 event, held at Toronto’s CBC Glenn Gould Studio, featured the top 14 speakers from across North America competing for a $5,000 cash prize and a prize package worth up to $50,000.

This year’s Grand Slam theme was “Brave”, challenging speakers to share stories of courage and resilience. In her winning speech titled “A Mother’s Promise,” Campo took the audience on an emotional journey that began in a specialist’s office when she was just two years old. Her mother, hoping for a simple diagnosis of flat feet, instead heard the devastating words: “This child has muscular dystrophy.” Dreams of pink dresses and ballet slippers were suddenly replaced by body casts, surgeries, and countless hours of painful physiotherapy.

“Every parent’s worst nightmare is watching your child cry out in pain, unable to fix it,” Campo McLeod shared. Her parents found hope in an unexpected place – the swimming pool. Initially meant only to help move her muscles and ease pain, the water became her sanctuary. “In the water, I didn’t have a disability. I was free, I was where I belonged, and I was with my people.” This freedom led to her becoming a three-time Paralympic gold medalist, holding eight world records and winning 17 medals.

The heart of her story emerged when she spoke about becoming a mother herself. After ten years of genetic testing and assurances she couldn’t pass on her condition, she and her husband welcomed three children. However, life had other plans. Following the birth of her daughter Morgan, Campo McLeod battled sepsis with only a 10% chance of survival. During this crisis, a new test revealed she had been misdiagnosed for 33 years – she actually had Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a condition her children had a 50% chance of inheriting.

“Initially, I felt guilt and anger knowing two of my children would face the same challenges I did,” Campo McLeod shared. “But I realized that having walked this road myself makes me perfectly positioned to guide them. When the world says no, my babies will say ‘watch me go.'”

Her speech’s powerful conclusion defined bravery in motherhood as “carrying the weight of these sacrifices and struggles and rising with love and strength no matter the obstacle in front of you. This is not our duty but a privilege and a legacy we build with each and every step.”

The Grand Slam final was the culmination of a year-long series of 5 contests, offering a platform for speakers to transform their life experiences into powerful messages, paving their paths toward professional speaking careers, TEDx talks, and other global opportunities.

The sold-out event at the CBC Glenn Gould Studio saw Campo share top honors with Alana Moor, who took second place with her powerful account of risking her life to save a fellow inmate during a violent prison raid in Panama, and Val Vee, who claimed third place with her journey through infertility and finding self-worth beyond motherhood. Leisse Wilcox rounded out the top four.

“This group has truly raised the bar, delivering speeches that left everyone in awe,” said Speaker Slam Co-Founder Dan Shaikh. “The energy, the bravery, and the raw authenticity set a new standard for what it means to be an Inspirational Speaker.” The competition’s co-founder Rina Rovinelli specifically praised Campo for “showing us what brave means.”

The win adds to an impressive list of accolades for Campo, including the Order of Ontario and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal. She currently serves as Mental Health Lead at the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board, where she continues to inspire others through her work and advocacy. She is scheduled to be honored with the National Hero award on November 20th by Canada’s Walk of Fame.

Danielle Campo is a celebrated Paralympian and motivational speaker known for her resilience and inspiring spirit. Her story and advocacy work have been featured in major media outlets including The Social, Breakfast Television, CP24, CHCH, CBC, and CTV News. Her memoir, “Resurrections: My Will to Survive is Olympian,” provides a raw and uplifting look at overcoming life’s challenges.