Sam Quek, Olympic gold medallist and former GB Hockey player, is now a broadcaster. She earned 125 international caps for the England and Great Britain women's hockey teams. In 2016, she was part of the team that won a gold medal at the Rio Olympics, along with Helen Richardson-Walsh and Kate Richardson-Walsh. The following year, she received an MBE for her contributions to hockey.
Since the Olympics, Sam has established herself as a broadcaster, hosting various sports and entertainment programmes. She regularly presents the BBC's daytime show, Morning Live, and became the first female captain on the BBC's flagship show, A Question of Sport. In February 2023, she co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest opening ceremony in Liverpool and co-anchored BBC's Olympic Breakfast during the Tokyo Games.
In sports broadcasting, Sam has covered a wide range of events, including the NFL and rugby union on Channel 5, field hockey on TNT Sports, and football on Channel 4 and LFC TV. She co-hosted BBC5 Live Radio's '606', the largest live football phone-in show. With a keen interest in gender equality in sports and broadcasting, Sam is a fantastic speaker choice for International Women's Day.
Sam's book, Roar: A Celebration of Great Sporting Women, looks at the experiences of famous female athletes, showing how they faced challenges and unfair treatment to succeed in sports. It includes honest interviews about the hard work, sacrifices, and strong mindset needed to reach the top. Motivated by determination, these women also fight for gender equality in sports, encouraging young girls to believe they can accomplish anything. The book celebrates their successes and shows how sports can change lives and challenge the way society thinks, delivering an inspiring message about the power of sports. Roar was also shortlisted for the Vikki Orvice Women's Sports Writing Award at The British Sports Book Awards 2024.
Sam has also participated in entertainment programmes, reaching the final four in the sixteenth series of 'I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!' and finishing as runner-up in BBC's 'Celebrity MasterChef' in 2020. Finally, Sam is also competing in the 2024 line-up of BBC's 'Strictly Come Dancing' — cha-cha-cha.
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.
Drawing from her extensive experience in sports, discover how Sam Quek advocates for gender equality in a male-dominated industry.
