Diane Simpson in 2008

Diane Simpson (born April 7, 1969, in Evanston, Illinois) is an American athlete, an Olympian and an eight-time Rhythmic gymnastics national team member, and was inducted into the USA Gymnastics Hall of Fame, Class of 2004.[1] She is a media marketing communications consultant and project manager who writes, produces and manages talent, events and operations logistics / hospitality for clients, sponsors and stakeholders.

She was the first rhythmic gymnast to twice qualify a spot for the United States into the 1988 Summer Olympics and 1992 Summer Olympic Games. She was inducted into the Evanston Township High School Athletic Hall of Fame.[2]

Simpson won more than 20 international medals, three Olympic Festival titles, and 22 national titles – including winning all four event finals and the All-Around title at the 1988 U.S. National Championships in San Rafael, California – during her career.

Competitive history

Finals
Won two gold medals and two silver medals at the Pan American Games in Indianapolis in 1987.[4]
One of two rhythmic gymnasts on the 1988 U.S. Olympic Team -- the third of 10 American individual rhythmic gymnasts to qualify for the Olympic Games.
Finals competitor
Won the bronze medal at the team event at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba.[4]
  • 1992 Won the Mariana Grajalas competition in Cuba
  • 2004 United States Gymnastics Hall of Fame [1][4]

Business career

Education and work

Simpson graduated from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism with a double major in journalism and political science (Honors) [5] and worked as a media relations and events specialist at the College of American Pathologists. She was manager of athlete relations and communications at Chicago 2016 and a writer for the Chicago Sun-Times for 10 years before her work with Diane Simpson Consulting.

She has worked news broadcasting in Chicago and with other national television news and radio stations, including WJWJ-TV in Beaufort, South Carolina, WBBM-TV, WMAQ-TV, WFLD-TV FOX 32, WMVP-AM 1000. She returned to writing news for CBS Channel 2 in 2015.

She has also served as advance, fundraiser and as Illinois press coordinator for Sen. John Kerry for President in 2004 and as a public affairs specialist.[5]

Currently she works as activation media marketing communications producer/writer and event project manager / hospitality liaison for clients.

Chicago 2016 Olympics bid

Simpson held the role of manager of athlete relations and communications for the Chicago bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics from 2006 to 2009. She accompanied about 20 Olympians and elite athletes—including Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Michael Johnson, Edwin Moses, Nastia Liukin, Bart Conner, Nadia Comăneci, Willie Banks, Dikembe Mutombo, David Robinson, Brandi Chastain and David Diaz—to Copenhagen, Denmark, for the 2016 Olympic Games Host City announcement that took place Oct. 2, 2009.[6]

Post-Olympics career

Simpson was president of the Midwest Chapter of U.S. Olympians and Paralympians,[3][7] the regional chapter of the U.S. Olympians Association.[8] Her term began in 2006 and she was re-elected in 2012 before completing her role in 2020. She also serves as secretary of the Female Athlete Triad Coalition, a 501(c)(3) global health advocacy collaboration.[9]

She lives with her two children, Alexis (23), and Jonathan (17.)

She has been certified as an American College of Sports Medicine Certified Personal Trainer.[5]

Media appearances

Film and television

Served as a Turner Sports commentator at the 1998 Goodwill Games.[5] Performer in "Best Years of Our Lives" music video for BaHa Men.

Performer in 1989 American Music Awards. Miss Moscow News, 1988.

Magazines, newspapers

Appeared in Mademoiselle in 1989. The magazine ceased publication in 2001.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 ":: USA Gymnastics :: USA Gymnastics Hall Of Fame Class Of 2004 Inducted Tonight". Usagym.org. 2004-06-26. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  2. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-04-04. Retrieved 2011-10-09.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. 1 2 "Diane Simpson | U.S. Olympians & Paralympians- Midwest". Midwestolympians.com. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  4. 1 2 3 "Biography: SIMPSON, Diane". Usghof.org. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  5. 1 2 3 4 http://chicagopartner.com/bios/Diane_Simpson.pdf%5B%5D
  6. ↑ ":: USA Gymnastics :: Gymnastics family travels to Copenhagen in support of Chicago 2016 ::". Usagym.org. 2009-09-24. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  7. ↑ "USOC Resources for Coaches, Athletes and Educators". Teamusa.org. Archived from the original on 2012-04-03. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  8. ↑ "Alumni Chapters | A Helping Hand for Olympians in Need". Oorf.org. Archived from the original on 2013-01-14. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
  9. ↑ "Welcome to the Female Athlete Triad Coalition Website!". Femaleathletetriad.org. Retrieved 2012-11-20.
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