Oliver Morton: from sports star to business hero
- Every Media Productions
- May 13
- 4 min read
From top-ranked athlete to successful entrepreneur, Oliver Morton carries an inspiring story shaped by loss, discipline and the quiet strength of a true hero.
by Fábio Borges, in Los Angeles
In the heart of the Smoky Mountains, where winding roads meet timeless traditions, a remarkable story quietly unfolds — one of resilience, purpose, and the unshakable spirit of community. Oliver Morton was born and raised in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, a small town surrounded by natural beauty and built on deep-rooted values. But his journey would take him far beyond those misty hills. Through the high-stakes world of competitive sports, across continents as a professional athlete, and into the soul-testing realms of personal loss and self-discovery.
From a childhood spent training for elite tennis and basketball tournaments to navigating grief after unimaginable loss, Oliver’s path has been anything but ordinary. Yet through every challenge, he carried with him a powerful question: “Why am I here?” In his search for purpose, he uncovered something deeper than success, the calling to uplift others, to lead with authenticity, and to live a life driven not by fame, but by meaning.
Today, as an entrepreneur, mentor, and passionate storyteller, Oliver Morton stands as a testament to the power of perseverance, empathy, and faith in the human spirit. His story reminds us that true greatness isn’t measured in trophies or titles — it’s found in the courage to keep moving forward, the humility to grow through pain, and the choice to turn one’s life into a force for good.
The following interview reveals Oliver’s journey in his own words — a story that shows why he is one of our Real Heroes.
Hi Oliver, what’s your background and what led you to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Gatlinburg, Tennessee. Directly in the middle of the Smoky Mountain National Park. I feel very fortunate to be from a place so beautiful and to be raised here. There is a sense of community here that I only felt in Switzerland and Japan.
My grandparents started an antique business in 1949, then my father and uncle purchased it from them in the 1970s. I got to see what makes an entrepreneur. The work it takes, the time away from family, the sacrifice, and the leadership that is required.
I played junior national tennis from the age of 8 until I was 14. I had sponsors and was ranked top 20 in the nation. Playing tennis at this level taught me many lessons. You are on an island by yourself, without any teammates or coaching to help you. You figure out who you are and what you are made of at a very young age. You are playing for sponsors and college scholarships from the age of 10. Even the possibility of going pro, while you are in high school. This is where I learned discipline. Having to practice after school with coaches, an hour away from my hometown, every day of the week. I'm thankful for this experience.
At the age of 15, I had to choose between tennis and basketball. At 15 I was 6'8 and 240 pounds. I chose basketball. I was an All-American in both sports in high school and played Division 1 college basketball at Ole Miss and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Afterwards, I played overseas for 8 years in 14 countries. This taught me so many valuable lessons: self-reliance, teamwork, further discipline, and the value of living in different cultures, which was my education in life.
What does your city or community mean to you, both personally and professionally?
Gatlinburg is a very tight-knit community. Only 4,000 people live in the city and we have around 13 million people visit per year. The community here helps each other, looks out for one another, and cares about everyone. In my experience, this is a very rare trait for any community these days. We have almost no crime and every culture from around the world visits here. You are only as good as the tribe you surround yourself with, and I feel this is an amazing tribe!
Can you describe a moment in your journey when you felt truly tested and how you handled it?
I lost my father in 2009 and my sister in 2011. Those were personal experiences that changed my life. At the time, I thought, why me??? Why is this happening to me? Which is a victim mentality, and shortly after, I managed to shed that thought process and began to just be thankful that I had the time I did with them. I learned that you can't control the things that happen to us, but rather we can control how we react to what happens to us. You can view anything as a stepping stone or a stumbling block. Professionally, I have failed over and over again.
That is why I have become successful. It’s the failure, learning from it, and picking myself back up and keeping pushing forward. I use the analogy of basketball, which is: if I stopped shooting every time I missed a shot, I would never become successful at it. You have to keep shooting.
What kind of impact do you hope your work has on others?
I started asking myself the most important question, "Why am I here?" “What purpose was I put here for?" The answer to that question was always, "To make other people’s lives better." "Try to inspire others." That is what drives me and is my compass in life.
What’s on the horizon for you?
My goals are to only get involved with business and ventures that I'm obsessed with. My time is limited, so I only want to be dedicated to things I'm obsessed with. Mostly, Speedwerkz, Morton's Antiques, storytelling, and anything else that may come along that I feel led to be a part of.
Connect with Oliver Morton
Website: www.speedwerkz.com
Instagram: @olivermorton78
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