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Closing Session: Beyond the Medal- A Conversation with Aly Raisman

Tuesday, October 27, 2026

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Hall 1

CPE: 1.0

Proficiency: Basic knowledge/experience

Tracks: Behavioral & Mental Health, Sports & Human Performance Nutrition

Theme: Leadership, Influence & Career Growth

Description

Gold medalist, team captain, advocate, and bestselling author Aly Raisman spent more than a decade competing at the highest levels of sport, navigating pressure, setbacks, and extraordinary expectations along the way. In this inspiring conversation, she reflects on the lessons learned throughout her journey, from champion athlete to one of the most influential voices in athlete well-being. Drawing from her experiences in elite sport and beyond, Raisman explores the connections between performance, mental health, body image, and self-worth, offering insights that resonate far beyond the athletic arena. Nutrition and dietetics professionals work every day to help individuals balance performance, health, and well-being, whether supporting athletes, patients, clients, students, or communities. In a culture that often measures success by results, appearance, and achievement, Raisman challenges attendees to rethink what strength, resilience, and well-being truly look like.

Learning Objectives

  • Identify key factors that contribute to resilience and well-being in high-pressure environments.
  • Describe the relationship between performance, mental health, body image, and self-worth.
  • Explain opportunities to apply lessons from elite athletics to support well-being and resilience in professional or personal settings.

Keynote Speaker

  • Aly Raisman photo

    Aly Raisman

    Gold Medalist, Mental Health Advocate & Best-Selling Author

    Aly Raisman, team captain of the gold medal winning USA Women’s Gymnastics teams in 2012 and 2016, is one of the most decorated American gymnasts of all-time. At the 2012 Olympic Games, Raisman captured the hearts of millions as she became the first American to win gold on the floor exercise and then cemented her status as an American gymnastics legend in 2016 as she helped guide the team to gold and earned a silver medal in the All-Around competition. A leader on and off the floor, Raisman uses her platform to help normalize the conversation around mental health, encourage positive body image and promote the importance of self-care. She is a two-time New York Times best-selling author of her memoir, Fierce, and her children's book, From My Head to My Toes, an on-air analyst for ESPN's college gymnastics broadcast and a sought-after brand ambassador and keynote speaker. Inspired by an army of survivors, Raisman is a leading advocate for systemic change in the sport of gymnastics and the eradication of sexual abuse.

Moderator

  • Dawn Jackson Blatner photo

    Dawn Jackson Blatner

    Media & Sports Dietitian, Dawn Jackson Blatner

    Dawn Jackson Blatner is a registered dietitian nutritionist and certified specialist in sports dietetics. She is the author of two acclaimed books: The Flexitarian Diet, recognized as a top diet by U.S. News & World Report, and The Superfood Swap. Dawn is a media dietitian and recipient of the prestigious Media Excellence Award from the Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics. She appears regularly in national and local media outlets, including The Today Show and Good Morning America. She starred in and won ABC's primetime reality TV show, My Diet Is Better Than Yours, and hosted an Emmy-nominated TV show in Chicago for three seasons. As a media spokesperson for some of the biggest national brands, Dawn shares her expertise through satellite TV media tours, video creation, virtual webinars, in-person events, and professional presentations. Dawn is also a sports dietitian, having served as the head dietitian for the Chicago Cubs for 10 years, where she earned a World Series ring with the team. She continues to use her sports background to empower people to eat for a strong body and joyful life.

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