Word Championship of Public Speaking
Witness the Unveiling of a New World Champion!
Each year, thousands of Toastmasters, representing over 100 countries, battle for the title of World Champion of Public Speaking. This year, the months-long competition culminates at the 2023 International Convention, hosted in Nassau, Bahamas, as 28 semifinalists compete for a title that can transform lives.
Once again, the world’s largest speaking competition will be conducted in a hybrid format. That means you can watch all of the action onsite in The Bahamas—or online from your home country.
Register to watch these thrilling events live and in person or livestreamed online:
- World Championship of Public Speaking® – Saturday, August 19, at 12 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) or Coordinated Universal Time -4 (UTC -4)
- World Championship of Public Speaking: Winner’s Showcase – Saturday, August 19, at 3:15 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) or Coordinated Universal Time -4 (UTC -4)
From Amateur to Prominent Speaker
The World Championship of Public Speaking® starts in Toastmasters clubs across the globe. From there, participants advance to Area-, Division-, District-, and region-level competitions. Two winners from each region-level competition move on to the semifinals. At the semifinals, an expert panel of experienced Toastmasters will determine the eight finalists. Each speech will last between five to seven minutes.
For many amateur speakers, this competition is the opportunity of a lifetime. Past winners have used this accolade to become prominent, paid speakers, delivering keynotes and speeches around the globe.
Watch Past World Champions
2022 World Champion of Public Speaking
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2021 World Champion of Public Speaking
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Watch more World Champions of Public Speaking on YouTube.
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View a list of all World Champions of Public Speaking.Back to Top
Year Recipient From 2022 Cyril Junior Dim Poland 2021 Verity Price South Africa 2020 Mike Carr Austin, Texas 2019 Aaron Beverly Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 2018 Ramona J. Smith Houston, Texas 2017 Manoj Vasudevan Singapore 2016 Darren Tay Singapore 2015 Mohammed Abdullah Qahtani Dhahran, Saudi Arabia 2014 Dananjaya Hettiarachchi Nawala Rajagiriya, Sri Lanka 2013 Presiyan Vasilev Chicago, Illinois 2012 Ryan Avery Portland, Oregon 2011 Jock Elliott Bongaree, QLD, Australia 2010 David Henderson San Antonio, Texas 2009 Mark Hunter Albany Creek, QLD, Australia 2008 LaShunda Rundles Dallas, Texas 2007 Vikas Jhingran Cambridge, Massachusetts 2006 Edward Hearn Chicago, Illinois 2005 Lance Miller Glendale, California 2004 Randy Harvey Sherwood, Oregon 2003 Jim Key Rowlett, Texas 2002 Dwayne Smith Decatur, Georgia 2001 Darren LaCroix Auburn, Massachusetts 2000 Ed Tate Aurora, Colorado 1999 Craig Valentine Ellicott City, Maryland 1998 Brett Rutledge Auckland, New Zealand 1997 Willie Jones Honolulu, Hawaii 1996 David Nottage Auckland, New Zealand 1995 Mark Brown Mount Vernon, New York 1994 Morgan McArthur Idaho Falls, Idaho 1993 Otis Williams Jr. Cincinnati, Ohio 1992 Dana LaMon Lancaster, California 1991 David Ross Norman, Oklahoma 1990 David Brooks Austin, Texas 1989 Don Johnson Torrance, California 1988 Jerry Starke Milwaukee, Wisconsin 1987 Harold Patterson Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 1986 M. Arabella Bengson Islington, Ont., Canada 1985 Marie C. Pyne Ireland 1984 Joe Boyd Bellingham, Washington 1983 Roy Fenstermaker Downey, California 1982 Kenneth Bernard Australia 1981 Jim Joelson Reno, Nevada 1980 Jeff Young Los Angeles, California 1979 Dick Caldwell Calgary, Alberta, Canada 1978 Michael Aun II Lexington, South Carolina 1977 Evelyn Jane Burgay Springfield, Virginia 1976 William Johnson Aberdeen, Maryland 1975 Andy McKay Rochester, New York 1974 Bennie Powell Los Angeles, California 1973 Charles W. Stewart San Antonio, Texas 1972 Rudy Valle Canoga Park, California 1971 Bert Angus Transcona, Manitoba, Canada 1970 Stephen D. Boyd Bloomington, Illinois 1969 Dennis Mangers Delano, California 1968 Grant R. Sheehan Washington, D.C. 1967 Dale Smith Goshen, Indiana 1966 Michael Yaconelli San Diego, California 1965 John L. Nydegger Lewiston, Idaho 1964 Anthony C.L. Bishop Northridge, California 1963 Larry Beitel Winston-Salem, North Carolina 1962 Robert Garton Columbus, Indiana 1961 John J. Carver Seattle, Washington 1960 Glenn E. Carroll Kitchener, Ontario, Canada 1959 Dean F. Berkeley Bloomington, Indiana 1958 Edmund Shire Hamburg New York 1957 Charles Jones Fort Smith, Arkansas 1956 David Holmes Jr. Toledo, Ohio 1955 Charles W. Bryant Tacoma, Washington 1954 Herbert Thompson Wood River, Illinois 1953 Theodore B. Furlow Long Beach, California 1952 George W. Armstrong Omaha, Nebraska 1951 Albert Green, Jr. Seattle, Washington 1950 Charles Hilton Mason City, Iowa 1949 Dalton McAllister Fort Wayne, Indiana 1948 Robert Dellwo Spokane, Washington 1947 Douglas Sherwin Clearlake, Iowa 1946 Thor Myhre Spokane, Washington 1945 NO CONVENTION 1944 NO CONVENTION 1943 Llyod Prante Monrovia, California 1942 Cavett Robert Phoenix, Arizona 1941 John McInnis San Francisco, California 1940 David MacFarlane Santa Monica, California 1939 William Roberts Huntington Park, California 1938 Henry Wiens Reedley, California