Tyler Hamilton

The American School in London brought Tyler to the school in the context of its core values work. Author Rush Kidder points out in "How Good People Make Tough Choices" that life’s toughest choices are ‘right v right’ dilemmas, rather than ‘right v wrong’ situations. Mr. Hamilton experienced such a dilemma in first choosing whether to compete professionally with performance enhancing drugs (or give up on a dream), and then again in whether to tell the truth of doping in cycling when faced with a grand jury inquiry. Tyler spent the day with the students at ASL, speaking candidly about his experience, and answering every question that they had. At night, he spoke to over two hundred adults in the community. Again, his honesty and ability to take responsibility for his actions earned respect and admiration. His visit to ASL was a big success, helping the school make sense of its values via a contemporary example.
Paul Richards, Principal, American School in London

Tyler was absolutely amazing! I have had experience with many athletes and he was undeniably the best we have had. He is friendly, honest, approachable and just an all-around great guy. He made everyone he spoke to feel special...Our staff loved him and felt he took the time to say hello and remember each of their names, our sponsors were thrilled because he took the time to chat and learn about each of them, and the dinner participants felt his honesty and openness and loved the story. His speech felt like raw honesty and that’s what they wanted to hear.
Janine Herman, Executive Director, Calgary JCC

What I find so compelling about Tyler’s story and his presentation is his authenticity. Tyler holds nothing back – he not only highlights the triumphs but also examines the low points and unmasks what it took to compete at the elite level of cycling from the mid-1990s until the mid-2000s. He returns time and again to the theme of choice – that we all have the power to make choices and that those choices have consequences. At Carroll College, he took the time to address student athletes directly, using his story as a cautionary tale about the price of winning at all costs. He encouraged students to slow down and to think about what they were doing – take the time, he urged them, to make the right decision. Throughout his talk, he urged the audience to take responsibility for their actions and to stand up for what’s right – as he writes in “The Secret Race”: ‘The truth will set you free.’
Gillian Glaes, Associate Professor of History, Carroll College

His story was truly amazing. He helped me realize that you really need to understand theconsequences of your actions.
Member of USA Swimming National Junior Team