One of the most successful British Paralympian’s of all time, Baroness Tanni-Grey Thompson is an inspirational wheelchair racer who won 16 Paralympic medals (11 of which were gold), over the course of her career, competing at five Paralympic games. As well as this, she has two Paralympic World Cup medals, has held over 30 world records and has six London Marathon wins to her name,
Awarded the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award, Tanni now works as an after-dinner speaker and is part of our roster of outstanding individuals available to book via the Champions Olympic Speakers agency.
Not only is she able to share insights from her truly remarkable sporting career at her speaking engagements, but Tanni has also pursued a political career. She was appointed a Life Peer by the House of Lords in 2010, allowing her to offer her highly respected opinions on a variety of current issues.
One of the most pressing issues currently facing British sport is the recent bullying scandal, with accusations levelled against high-profile figures in cycling, swimming, and other sports. Former Great Britain cyclist Wendy Houvenaghel described the approach of her coaches as a “medals at any cost” mentality, with a “culture of fear” pervasive within the team.
In response, Tanni authored a report on the matter, arguing that there should be a clear duty of care towards athletes. She stated, “We’ve proved we can win medals. I don’t think having a duty of care diminishes our chances of winning.”
“We can’t make everything warm and cuddly – because that’s not what elite sport is about. But it’s about nurturing the best talent without leaving athletes broken at the end of it. There are some excellent sports out there, but there are others that need to do much more. My report doesn’t single out any specific sport or individual; it’s about the principles of how sport should evolve moving forward.”
The ongoing debate over how far we should push Olympic and Paralympic athletes continues, with investigations into the affected sports still underway. During her speaking events, Tanni is able to address this crucial issue, drawing on her own experiences as an elite athlete.
To hire Tanni Grey-Thompson, or any of our top Olympic Stars, for your next event, give one of our dedicated booking agents a call on 0207 1010 553, or, alternatively, fill out our online form today!
Jack Hayes was appointed Director of the Champions Olympic Speakers agency in 2012 becoming one of the youngest Directors in the UK. A year later, Jack became a founding member of the European Association of Speakers Bureaux (EASB) collaborating with speaker agencies to create a code of ethics and regulations for the industry.
Balancing his time between attracting the world's top speaking talent and leading collaborations with global brands, Jack has nurtured relationships with media publications, blue-chip companies, institutions and governments. Having signed some of the most sought-after speakers on the international stage, Jack has overseen countless projects with the likes of HSBC, LadBible, the NHS, The Economic Times' Business Summit, ITV and British Airways.
Despite having already booked in the services of speakers such as the world's greatest living explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, the inspiration behind James Bond character "Q" and former Director-General of MI5, Dame Stella Rimington, rugby World Cup-winning manager Sir Clive Woodward and many more, there was one moment that stood out for Jack, which was booking the man who put the "i" in iPhone, Ken Segall, who appeared at our very own Champions networking breakfast.
Jack has led Champions Speakers to unprecedented growth. Having taken the bureau into the digital age he has cultivated a brand-wide commitment to innovation, all the while staying true to the family values upon which Champions has been built; trust, transparency and care. Outside of work, Jack can be found still working! And occasionally attempting to breakdance.
To discuss the details of your event or book one of our exciting Olympic and Paralympic speakers, call a booking agent at Champions Olympic Speakers on 0207 1010 553 or complete our online contact form.
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