Sam Bloom

Sam Bloom is a World Para Surfing Champion, a sought-after and engaging global keynote speaker and a bestselling author. In early 2013, Sam’s dream life turned into a nightmare when on holiday in Thailand she unknowingly leant against a rotten balcony railing, falling through it and crashing six metres onto the concrete below. Her accident left her paralysed from the chest down.

Broken and hopeless, Sam reached her outer limits of physical and mental suffering. But with courage and determination she made her way back from the edge, scarred but undefeated.

Since her accident, Sam has inspired a bestselling book and major film – the number 1 box-office hit Penguin Bloom starring Naomi Watts. The movie is adapted from the international bestselling book, Penguin Bloom: The Odd Little Bird Who Saved a Family. She has also co-authored her own bestseller, has won two Oceania KL1 paracanoe championships, and is the two times Australian and World Para Surfing champion.

Sam is the Ambassador for Wings For Life, Surf Lakes and The Sapphire Project.

In 2019, Sam was nominated for the Surfing Australia Female Surfer of the Year Award, and in 2022 was awarded the Surfing Australia Female Para Surfer of the Year.

Sam, currently ranked number 1 in the world, took Gold in the first professional Adaptive World Surfing Tour event in Hawaii  and is aiming for a 3rd World Title at the ISA World Para Surfing Championships in California. Win or lose, she’s committed to keep raising the profile of the sport as the global push for paralympic inclusion continues.

Today, she continues to defy the barriers in life and in sport, and inspires people around the world to do the same.

More about Sam Bloom:

Sam has found purpose in motivating others to live their best lives today, not tomorrow. From students to C-suite executives and all ages and backgrounds between, Sam’s story continues to inspire audiences globally.

Sam’s powerful story inspired the movie Penguin Bloom starring Naomi Watts and Andrew Lincoln. The movie premiered as one of only 50 films chosen for the 2020 Toronto International Film Festival. It was released globally in January 2021 with an Australian premiere and box-office, while it was purchased by Netflix to stream across key global territories. The film became an immediate hit taking #1 at the Australian box office and trending on Netflix in North America and across Europe.

Sam’s deeply moving story of courage, hope and determination has resonated globally, featuring in some of Australia and the world’s most widely circulated and consumed publications including Good Weekend, Time, The Guardian and the Sydney Morning Herald.

After the success of international bestselling book Penguin Bloom, Sam decided it was time to share her story in her own words for the first time.

Teaming up with Bradley Trevor Greive again, Sam and Cameron created Sam Bloom: Heartache & Birdsong. Released in September 2020, the book became an instant bestseller and was shortlisted for the ABIA 2021 Illustrated Book of the Year.

Sam focuses her impact work in two areas – Environment & Climate Change, and Spinal Cord Injury. Sam is an ambassador for The Sapphire Project, Surfers for Climate and Wings for Life, as well as funding ground-breaking scientific research by donating a % of book sales to SpinalCure Australia.

Sam featured in Witchery’s 2021 Mother’s Day campaign ‘Like No (M)other’ showcasing strong and inspirational women and their unique stories.

In May 2022, Sam joined the Surf Lakes family as their newest ambassador and Blackmores has been a long-time supporter of Sam’s.

Sam works with numerous spinal cord injury charities around the world, is an adventure traveller, former neurology nurse and mother of three boys.

Sam Bloom speaks about:

Sam is one of Australia’s most highly sought-after keynote speakers, delivering powerful and inspiring presentations to audiences across Australia and around the world.

Set to Cameron’s remarkable imagery, her personal story resonates deeply with audiences of all ages and backgrounds

Sam speaks about:

·         Cultivating resilience

·         Adapting to change

·         The power of family, hope and love

·         Goal setting, grit and determination

·         Mental health and wellness

·         Importance of nature in healing