Helen Richardson-Walsh, a renowned midfielder, began her international hockey career for Great Britain (GB) in 1999 at 17, quickly making her Olympic debut in 2000. She played a pivotal role in the GB women's team's success, participating in four Olympics and winning gold in Rio 2016.
Helen's illustrious career includes a Commonwealth bronze, two silvers, a bronze at London 2012, and a European Championship in 2015. Helen and her wife, Kate Richardson-Walsh, also made history as the first same-sex married couple to win Olympic medals together.
Despite facing career-threatening injuries, including back surgeries and ankle procedures, she overcame these challenges and depression, returning to lead the GB team to victory. After nearly 300 international appearances and an MBE award for her contributions to hockey, Helen now plays at club level in the UK. She is an ambassador for several organisations, holds a psychology degree, and has a master's in Organisational Psychology. In 2021, she joined Tottenham Hotspur Women as a Performance Psychologist.
Having helped propel the women’s hockey team to victory on the world stage in Rio 2016, Helen stepped on to the podium alongside her team mate and wife, GB captain Kate Richardson-Walsh. They also entered Olympic history as the first same sex married couple to win an Olympic medal playing for the same team. Helen shares her experiences of what an inclusive environment can mean for personal performance and the importance of a team culture where diverse characters are encouraged to bring different skills to the table and given the opportunity to achieve their potential.
We all want to achieve our goals, whether individually or collectively. It gives a sense of achievement and delivers personal and business success. Get yourself on track with how to set, measure, and achieve your goals.
The GB hockey team at the Rio Olympics grabbed the headlines not just for their gold winning achievements, but for the self-evident strength of their team culture and unity. In an age of social media their decision to come off all channels for the duration of the Games was emblematic of their focus, and was a conscious decision taken as part of a collective approach to how they functioned as a team. Drawing on these themes Helen is ideally placed to shed light on the psychology of high performing teams, and to share the lessons of a 17 year career in international sport.
This speech explores the inspiring journeys of athletes preparing for the 2024 Paris Olympics. It focuses on their rigorous training, personal sacrifices, and the mental and physical resilience required to compete at the highest level, celebrating their dedication and the spirit of the Olympic Games.
