Daley Thompson - Speaker

Daley Thompson is a former English decathlete and a double Olympic champion. He dominated the decathlon for nearly a decade, winning gold medals at the 1980 Moscow Games and the 1984 Los Angeles Games. Thompson was known for his competitive spirit and charisma, consistently outperforming his rival, Jürgen Hingsen, and remaining undefeated in all competitions from 1979 to 1987.

Throughout his career, Thompson broke the world record for the decathlon four times and secured numerous titles, including three Commonwealth championships and victories at the World and European Championships. His achievements have led many to regard him as one of the greatest decathletes in history. His autobiography, "Daley: Olympic Superstar," was published in 2024.

After retiring from athletics in 1992 due to a hamstring injury, Thompson briefly played reserve team football for Mansfield Town and made one appearance for Stevenage F.C. He also worked as a fitness coach for Wimbledon F.C. and Luton Town. In 1994, he participated in the Ford Credit Fiesta Challenge Championship and trained with Reading Football Club.

Thompson served as an ambassador for the London 2012 Summer Olympics, advocating for the positive impact of the Games on education and sport. He co-presented a mid-morning show on talkSPORT in 2015 and opened his gym, Daley Fitness, in London the same year. In 2018, he co-founded DT10 Sports, offering low-sugar protein shakes and sports bars.

Thompson's engaging personality won him the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award in 1982, and he was appointed an MBE in 1983, later promoted to CBE in 2000. He remains committed to promoting fitness and health, believing in the importance of an active lifestyle for overall well-being.