Greg Searle

Greg Searle is a successful motivational business speaker who draws upon his experience of elite performance as an Olympic Gold Medalist. Greg developed a love of rowing at Hampton School in Middlesex. Inspired by his brother, Jonny, who won the Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta and by Martin Cross claiming the Gold at the LA Olympics in 1984, Greg took up the sport in 1985, rowing for the school until 1990 when he moved to Molesey Boat Club and straight into the GB team. As a speaker, Greg draws upon his experience as a consultant for Lane4, executive coach and Olympian to teach audiences the power of perseverance. 

The Searle Brothers won a Gold Medal in the coxed pairs at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. They fought an epic race and faced fierce opposition from the Italian Abbagnale brothers. With just 250 metres to go, the brothers surged past the Italians in one of the most exciting and memorable finishes in an Olympic rowing event.  During subsequent World Championships, Greg amassed 5 World Rowing Championship medals and became a Bronze Medalist in the Coxless Four at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

After retiring from rowing in 2000 and during his 9-year break from the sport, Greg took to sailing, taking part in the America's Cup Challenger Series as a grinder - powering the winches used to hoist and trim sails on a boat. He kept fit by participating in the London Marathon and London Triathlon, reaching the final of the BBC's Superstars series. Greg had two children and became a director of Lane 4, a company established by the former Olympic swimming champion Adrian Moorehouse that imparts lessons learned in sport to the business community. But much to the delight of British rowing fans, the draw of a home Olympic games proved too much to resist for the 40-year-old, who came out of international retirement in 2009.

Drawing on his strength, determination and single-mindedness, Greg competed in the London 2012 Olympics, winning a Bronze medal with the rowing men’s eight on home soil. His literary account of his later career, If Not Now, When?, was published in e-book form only 15 days after his incredible return to the Olympics. In recognition of his achievements, Greg became one of the youngest recipients of an MBE aged 20, announced in the 1993 honours list. Greg is a fantastic, experienced speaker with a relaxed, humorous and engaging speaking style. His sporting analogies after returning to rowing for the London 2012 Olympics provide thought-provoking and relevant business insight.