This summer, Paris will play host to the XXXIII Olympiad.
Across 27 days, 329 Olympic and 549 Paralympic medal events will take place.
Over 14,000 athletes will run, jump, cycle and dive in the hope of taking their place on the legendary podium steps.
Kicking off in Paris on July 26th, this edition of the Summer Olympics will debut four new sports, introducing breaking, surfing, skateboarding and sport climbing to the competition.
With a unique perspective on motivation, teamwork and peak performance, Olympic and Paralympic speakers are able to share lessons from their own careers, to motivate and inspire employees and organisations striving for success.
Ahead of Paris 2024, we’ve compiled a shortlist of our most sought-after Olympic and Paralympic speakers available for keynote speeches or fireside chats.
Able to talk on creating a winning culture, effective communication and performance under pressure, these speakers are guaranteed to inspire, educate and entertain.
Sally Gunnell OBE
Regarded as one of the greatest female athletes England has ever produced, Sally Gunnell is the only woman ever to hold four major track titles concurrently – Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth.
After narrowly missing out on the chance to become World Champion in 1991, Sally stormed back to win Olympic gold in 1992 and defied incredible odds to become World Champion in 1993, setting a new World Record in the process.
Her World Record time of 52.74 still ranks in the world all-time top ten and is still the current British record.
Now a popular and sought-after keynote speaker, Sally speaks on sustaining excellence, achieving optimal team dynamics and the impact mental health has on peak performance. Watch our exclusive interview with Sally below.
Ben Hunt-Davis MBE
Ben Hunt-Davis is a former British competition rower and Olympic champion.
In 1998, following another disappointing Rowing World Championships, Ben and the GB Eight rowing team realised that if they carried on doing what they were doing, they would keep getting what they’d been getting – a lot of seventh place finishes.
Knowing they could do better, they decided to approach things differently, critically, asking the same simple question with every conversation, decision and action they took: ‘Will it make the boat go faster?’
At the 2000 Sydney Olympics, that thinking paid off. Ben and his teammates won gold in the Men's VIIIs, the first British crew to have won since 1912.
Now a performance coach and motivational speaker, Ben specialises in leadership and team development.
Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson DBE
Paralympian, broadcaster and Crossbench Peer Tanni Grey-Thompson is one of Britain’s best-known Paralympic athletes.
Tanni made her international debut at the 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics where she won bronze in the 400m. Four years later, Tanni claimed four gold medals, including world records in the 100m and 400m.
In 2000, she achieved victory in the 800m which was followed by success in the 100m, 200m and 400m. Tanni rounded off her gold medal tally by triumphing in the 100m and 400m in the 2004 Athens Paralympics.
Over her career, Tanni won 16 Paralympic medals, including 11 golds, held over 30 world records, and won the London Marathon six times. An inspiring motivational and after-dinner speaker, Tanni speaks on goal setting, overcoming adversity and adapting to change.
Kriss Akabusi MBE
Kriss Akabusi first rose to fame on the athletics track, gaining notoriety as a member of the British 4x400 metre relay squad.
Kriss begun his athletics career in 1983, initially specialising in the 400 metres followed by the 400 metres hurdles. His first international success came in 1984 at the Los Angeles Summer Olympics, winning silver with the British 4x400 metre relay team.
Following his international debut, Kriss’ career went from strength to strength, subsequently winning golds at the Commonwealth Games and European Athletics Championships.
Kriss’ greatest individual triumph came in 1990 when he beat David Hemery’s British record for the 400 metre hurdles – a record that had previously stood for 22 years.
For over twenty years, Kriss has provided high-energy inspirational speeches, workshops and coaching for businesses, fostering a can-do attitude, helping organisations identify, clarify and achieve their personal and professional goals.
Sir Clive Woodward OBE
Former British Olympic Association Director of Sport and England rugby coach Sir Clive Woodward is renowned for his visionary approach to winning.
After retiring as a player from international rugby, Clive began his remarkable coaching career. After success at club level and with England U21's, Clive became the first ever full-time professional Head Coach for England.
Under Clive’s leadership and overhaul of traditional practise, England went on to rank number one in the world and win the 2003 World Cup.
In 2006, Clive was announced as the new director of elite performance for the British Olympic Association. Working in close partnership with coaches and athletes to deliver the most successful Olympic Games for Team GB in the modern era. At the 2012 games, team GB team won 65 medals, finishing third in the overall Olympic medal table.
A captivating keynote speaker, Clive’s success lies in his ability to communicate and instil often challenging ideas, with a practical and proven methodology. Watch our exclusive interview with Clive, below.
Dame Sarah Storey DBE
Dame Sarah Storey is one of Great Britain's most decorated and versatile athletes.
Sarah made her Paralympic debut as a swimmer in 1992 aged just fourteen, where she won five medals including two golds. She continued swimming in the next three Paralympic Games before switching to cycling in 2005.
By 2016, Sarah had cemented her position as the country’s most decorated female Paralympian with fourteen gold, eight silver and three bronze medals.
To date, Sarah has won twenty-eight Paralympic medals at eight games.
A highly sought-after motivational speaker, Sarah speaks on what it takes to be a winner, team dynamics, managing change, adversity and discrimination.
To find out more about our Olympic and Paralympic speakers, please enquire online, email us or pick up the phone and speak to one of our booking agents.
You can also read more about our full collection of Olympic and Paralympic speakers here.
