Speaking & Advocacy
“My mission is to create equitable access to sport for the disabled community
and to reframe societal dialogues around disability away from
inspiration and sympathy towards inclusion and access.”
Nicolai Calabria has dedicated his life to advocating for disability justice and adaptive sports. A world-recognized athlete and elite international soccer player, Nico draws upon his personal and professional experiences to drive change in disability sport and social justice advocacy, backed by a lifetime of breaking barriers and redefining possibility.
A dynamic and passionate speaker, educator and coach, Nico has captured the minds of millions of people worldwide. Blending action, humor and insight, his crucial work has shifted perceptions of ability and identity with raw, real, and meaningful representation and authenticity.
Featured on CNN, ESPN, CBS, Sports Illustrated, and the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and partnering with some of the biggest brands in adaptive sport, Nico is a trusted voice in disability representation and youth empowerment, inspiring meaningful change in how people perceive disability.
Sharing his experience of challenging limits, and fighting for a more inclusive and equitable landscape, Nico is invited to tell his powerful story with major corporations, conferences, schools, and nonprofit events, through the art of storytelling.
Also offering expert insight on Disability, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives, and product innovation, he plays a pivotal role in helping organizations to create truly inclusive environments, and drive lasting impact.
His speaking engagements and conference sessions blend his classroom teaching experience with storytelling, providing an engaging and interactive way to learn for participants that invite audiences to play a significant role in shaping their own understanding.
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Keynote Speaking
With equal parts heart and grit, Nico delivers powerful, engaging talks on disability, motivation, and equity, drawing from lived experience and more than a decade of speaking experience.
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Advocacy Engagements
Be it panel appearances, fireside chats, or nonprofit partnerships, Nico brings authenticity and insight to every room, sparking conversations that rethink what’s possible and lead to real change.
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Youth & Education
Tailoring his message to any audience, Nico connects deeply with students, offering vulnerability, humor, and inspiration, leaving young minds empowered to see difference as strength.
From the pitch to the podium, thought leadership
rooted in lived experience, inclusive advocacy, and action.
Topics
🔷 Inclusive Education
🔷 Disability Advocacy & Identity
🔷 Overcoming Barriers
🔷 Adaptive Sports
🔷 Power of Representation
🔷 Elite Athletic Performance
🔷 Building Accessible Communities
🔷 Challenging Stereotypes
🔷 Navigating Difference
Past Engagements
In The Media
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CBS News | Local News Captain of U.S. Amputee Soccer Team shows people of all abilities what is possible
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New England Revolution | “It’s being seen as cool, as athletic, as fast” | 2024 U.S. Amputee Cup showcases growth of the game
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98.5 The Sports Hub 2024 | The Soccer Show | Nico Calabria & Revolution Amputee Soccer Team “Excited for the opportunity” to play at Gillette Stadium
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AdaptX Podcast #026 | Nico Calabria: The Growth of Amputee Soccer, Education, & Disability Bias
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New England Revolution | “The big winner was the sport of amputee soccer” | Revs Amputee Team makes history with inaugural U.S. Cup success
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Fox | Amputee Soccer doesn't want your sympathy. They want you to watch
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Boston Herald | Massachusetts men prep for 2022 Amputee Football World Cup
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MLS Works | Behind Nico Calabria's mission to expand access to amputee soccer in the US
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Boston Herald | There’s no stopping Nicolai Calabria 2019
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News Center Maine | 'All walks of life here competing for a championship, and it's great' amputee golf tournament wraps
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News Center Maine | Golfing without limitations: Amputee, able-bodied golfers compete in 5th annual tournament
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Men's Journal | An Amazing Score: Nico Calabria, a 19-year old soccer player born with one leg, will compete on the US World Amputee Team
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The Gazette | Colorado College sophomore Nicolai Calabria helps Team USA make amputee soccer history
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Sports Illustrated | Standing Strong: The Extraordinary Normalcy of Nico Calabria
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Today | 'I'm a competitor': One-legged soccer star defies expectations in new video
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Daily Mail | 'I've got one leg, you get one life': Meet the inspirational high school soccer star who plays for Team USA (and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro aged 13)
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Boston Herald | Viral video: Nico Calabria kicks himself into national spotlight
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CNN | Watch Interview: Soccer star Nicolai Calabria shines with only one leg
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Ad Week | Powerade Tells Nico Calabria's Amazing Story in Best World Cup Spot So Far
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USA Today | One-legged soccer player stars in commercial that will leave you speechless
