Photo Courtesy of 21st Century Digital Photography
Cathy Rigby is an amazing women, and she shared some personal stories as a speaker in the SmartTalk series at the State Theatre. The most inspirational part was her ongoing transformation.
Ms. Rigby came from a dysfunctional family. Her alcoholic father never really worked when she was a child. The love of gymnastics elevated her out of her environment, and placed her in the spotlight as an Olympian. She seemed to have it all until puberty began.
When Rigby’s hormones kicked in as a teen, she started gaining weight, despite sticking to her usual exercise routine and proper diet. The pressure to remain thin lead her to take the advice of another gymnast who ‘splurged and purged’. She started losing weight, but unfortunately became anorexic and bulimic. Fleeing death, she knew a change had to be made. Again, she transformed.
Cathy Rigby retired from gymnastics, got married and had two sons. Her new role as wife and mother, was added to endorsing products. She took advantage of her brand by becoming a sports commentator, and doing some acting in made-for-television movies and appearances on some shows. Her love of music and theatre drew Ms. Rigby to a career on Broadway for her final transformation.
Photo Courtesy of 21st Century Digital Photography
Rigby reinvented herself four times, proving that no one has to be pigeon holed into a career. We all have many skills and talents, and sometimes we have to regroup in order to progress.
Long-lasting change starts on the inside. By focusing your attention on things like becoming more honest, bold, or creative, you’ll find that the how-to of achieving your goals gets a whole lot easier. ~ Cheryl Richardson
After the show, Cathy spontaneously signed Playbills, answered more questions, and posed for pictures. She really connected with the audience.
Backstage, she greeted VIPs, posed in group photos, and chatted with everyone. This is where you could see how down-to-earth she is, and her humor really came through. I love how the SmartTalk speakers not only inspire, but also bond with their fans. There’s one more speaker scheduled for May to close the season. Hope to see you there!