Desiree Henry

Desiree Henry is one of the fastest women in British history. Having won a bronze medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics, Desiree’s name is cemented in the record books. The 100m, 200m, and 4x100m specialist was selected as one of seven young people who lit the Olympic Cauldron for the 2012 Olympic Games held in London. Desiree is passionate about inspiring others to get into sports and regularly holds fitness classes for everyone of all ages. In recent years she has also been making waves on the speaking scene, covering topics such as fitness, health and wellbeing, empowerment, and mental health.

At 11 years of age, Desiree began following in the footsteps of her older sister who had taken up athletics, but no one could have guessed just how successful she would become on the track. In 2011 Desiree became the Youth Champion over 200m and was selected by Daley Thompson to light the Olympic Cauldron just one year later. Over the next four years Desiree worked hard so that she could compete in the 2016 Olympics. That dream became reality when she improved her personal bests to 11.06 seconds over 100m and 22.46 seconds over 200m in 2016, earning her a place in Team GB for the Rio Olympics. In 2014 Desiree won gold in the European Championships in the 4x100m relay, and at the European Junior Championships won gold in the 4x100m relay and earned a silver medal in the 200m.

In 2017 Desiree continued her excellent form and won a silver medal at the 2017 World Championships in her home country of London. Her career has not been one without trials and tribulations, having to undergo surgery on both of her knees, Desiree has proven her motivation to make it to the top of the sport once more and has made a full recovery. Her most recent achievement includes her participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, where she won a silver medal in the Women's 4x 100m Relay.

Desiree’s bubbly personality lights up any room she enters, knowing first-hand the benefits that exercise gives people, Desiree uses her social media platform as a way to motivate others to begin working out, sharing videos of her gruelling training regime. Desiree eloquently shares her journey to the top of elite sport, and how to recover from a major setback. When looking to hire a speaker on fitness, mental health and wellbeing, empowerment, peak performance, and fashion, look no further than Desiree Henry, the third fastest woman in British history, to hire at your next event today.