Colin Jackson CBE is more than just a name in British athletics - he's a legend. Known worldwide for his remarkable hurdling career, Colin's accolades include two Olympic silver medals and two World Championship titles. He set the 110-metre hurdling world record with a time of 12.91 seconds, holding it for over a decade, and the indoor world record for the 60-metre hurdles from 1994 to 2021. Today, Colin shares his incredible journey of perseverance to inspire corporate audiences, motivating them to tackle their own challenges. As a motivational speaker, after-dinner speaker, or keynote speaker, Colin’s star-studded anecdotes are second to none.
Colin's journey to sporting greatness began in 1986 when he won gold at the World Junior Championships. He later won 12 gold medals and 8 silver medals across global athletics competitions, including the 1988 Olympic silver medal and World Championship golds in 1993 and 1999. At the European Championships, Colin was unbeatable from 1989 to 2002, and he also dominated the 110-metre hurdles at the Commonwealth Games in 1986, 1990, and 1994. In 2017, Colin's decision to come out as gay at 50 significantly advanced LGBTQ+ representation in sports. He blends his insights into high performance with the importance of authenticity, delivering powerful and relatable messages to his audiences.
Since retiring, Colin has coached top athletes like swimmer Mark Foster and hurdlers Rhys Williams and Timothy Benjamin. His expertise extends to his role as an athletics commentator for the BBC, and he won over viewers on shows like Who Do You Think You Are? and Strictly Come Dancing. Passionate about raising awareness, he co-founded the Go Dad Run campaign for prostate cancer and served as Race Director for the Red Bull: Wings for Life events. Colin's contributions have earned him an MBE, OBE, and CBE, along with an Honorary Fellowship from Wrexham Glyndwr University, where he was later named Chancellor. His autobiography, The Autobiography of Colin Jackson, published in 2004, is a must-read for a deeper look into his life.
With a treasure trove of stories from both his athletic career and personal life, Colin Jackson is a highly sought-after public speaker. He offers audiences a unique perspective on the mindset, skill, and emotional strength needed to succeed in both business and sports. His speeches, enriched by his extensive experience as an athlete and coach, leave a lasting impact. Whether discussing high performance, mental resilience, LGBTQ+ representation, or inclusion in sports, Colin’s talks are unforgettable, making him an exceptional choice for any corporate event.
Social Media
Books
Life's New Hurdles
Colin Jackson: The Autobiography
Reviews
Colin Jackson received a 4.5 star rating across 19 events in 2023
Agent Recommendation
"Colin Jackson is a fantastic speaker for corporate events. His journey as a world champion athlete offers powerful lessons in resilience, teamwork, and achieving goals. With engaging storytelling and motivational energy, Colin captivates audiences, making him an inspiring, dynamic, and memorable choice for any company event."
How to hire Colin Jackson
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Colin Jackson for your next event, today. To get in touch, simply call an official booking agent on 0207 1010 553 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
** We do not accept requests for autographs, signed merchandise, fan mail, birthday messages or any other non-commercial contact with the speakers or acts. Each speaker on the website may not have necessarily worked with Champions in the past but are known to perform such engagements within the industry.
Colin Jackson's official speaking topics are listed below:
Overcoming Adversity
Based on his own experience of failure, Colin teaches audiences how to overcome hurdles in their personal and professional lives.
Goal Setting
An athlete is only as successful as the goals they set. Colin shows audiences the importance of goal setting and how they can cultivate an athlete's approach.
Diversity & Inclusion
Colin has faced different types of prejudice throughout his career. As a speaker, he can discuss the power of living authentically and how businesses can create an inclusive environment.
Mental Health & Resilience
Without resilience, an athlete will give up at the first hurdle. Colin leaves audiences with a better understanding of mental health and the importance of resilience.
High-Performance
High-performance teams are unstoppable. With a speaker like Colin Jackson, your audience will learn how to use resilience and teamwork to create high-performance teams.
Official Feedback from In-Person & Virtual Events
"The delivery and content of his presentation were excellent. I have rarely, if ever, met anyone who is so generous with his time with every single person he meets. He has that rare ability to make each one feel so special. Nothing is too much for Colin; his rapport with both children and adults is obvious from the moment he arrives" - Herts Youth Games Association
"I just wanted to say thank you for yesterday. Colin was fantastic and I really appreciate him arriving on time, being fully briefed and ready to go. We had some really positive feedback on his speech from students, guests, tutors and our VIPs so please pass on our thanks". - Manchester College
"The event went really well, Colin was amazing, really interesting, entertaining and funny and such a nice guy from the very moment he arrived." - The Exeter Foundation
"It was fantastic, the feedback has been brilliant!" - Francesca, Private Groups Senior Manager, Stryker UK & Ireland
“Colin Jackson was the perfect addition to our business event. He was extremely engaging, lovely to talk to and interacted with all our delegates following his keynote. Would highly recommend him as a speaker for any event!” - Helen, Event Manager, Events Northern
"Please can you pass back to Colin huge thanks for speaking at and essentially hosting our event. He was fantastic and couldn't have been nicer – he spoke to, and had photos with hordes of people after the event. He's definitely a world-champion speaker as well as a world-champion athlete. His talk and Q&A session were absolutely gripping, fit the brief perfectly and left everyone feeling really inspired to reach for the things that really matter to us, turn mistakes and obstacles into stepping stones and put our whole selves into whatever we are trying to achieve. I found myself wishing I had means of taking notes! We're all still buzzing." - Dentons
"Colin was brilliant!! The feedback from people who have been before was he is the best speaker we have ever had at the event.. and as you know we have had some good ones over the years!!! Nothing was too much trouble… and we can’t thank him enough for all his help with the event. Also thank you to you and your team there for all the support." - Wiltshire Council
"I just wanted to let you know that yesterday went very well. Colin was as engaging as we had hoped. Colin handled the questions excellently and was very open while maintaining professionalism. The talk was absorbing and while Colin would have clearly delivered it before, he came across very naturally and engaged with us. Some great insights." - Georgina, Head of HR, ATP Media
- 2024 - Took part in Paris Olympics Sporting Champions scheme
- 2021 - Participated in Dancing on Ice
- 2019 - Inaugurated as a Chancellor of Wrexham Glyndwr University
- 2016 - Awarded an Honorary Fellowship at Wrexham Glyndwr University
- 2016 - Appointed a Sports4Kids Ambassador
- 2014 - Race Director of Wings for Life World Run
- 2012 - Launched the Red Shoes Academy
- 2008 - Co-hosted Sunday Life
- 2008 - Appeared in the documentary The Making of Me
- 2006 - Appeared on the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special
- 2005 - Took part in BBC's Strictly Come Dancing
- 2004 - Began working as a pundit and commentator
- 1999 - Awarded second World Championship gold medal
- 1994 - Set the World Record for the 60m hurdles indoor
- 1994 - Won gold at the Commonwealth Games
- 1993 - Broke the World Record for the 110m hurdles
- 1989 - Started his undefeated streak at the European Championships
- 1988 - Olympic Games Silver Medalist
