Pink Alliance welcomed Valorie Kondos Field, Head Coach, UCLA Women’s Gymanstics Team, to the stage for their 16th Annual Surviving and Thriving Luncheon on Wednesday.
Field, who began her career as a professional ballet dancer, has led the UCLA women’s gymnastics team to seven NCAA Championship titles and 29 Pac-12 and NCAA Regional titles.
But four years ago, the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame coach was diagnosed with stage one breast cancer.
“And I realized very quickly, when I was diagnosed, that we all have an expiration date, we just don’t know when that date is. It opened my world where I will not waste one day,” said Field.
Field continued to coach through 18 months of chemotherapy and extensive surgeries, receiving support from her colleagues, coaching staff, and her student-athletes.
“The athletes that went through that year with me, still bring up stories of how it changed their lives for the better,” said Field.
Since beating breast cancer, Field’s life motto is, “Life is short. Don’t wait to dance.”
Field also directs a myriad of live variety shows and is a corporate speaker.
Listen to “Surviving and Thriving 2018 Luncheon Speaker Valorie Kondos Field” on Spreaker.