Sir Steve Redgrave

Five time Olympic gold medalist, Steve Redgrave is one of Britain's greatest Olympians of all time, and most successful international rowers. Achieving unprecedented victory on every major world stage, Steve solidified his position in sporting history and as an icon of the industry continues to make valuable contributions through media and speaking events. As a speaker, Steve has travelled the world sharing his inspirational experience of battling chronic illness to become a champion and how his audiences can adopt his winning mindset. Best known for his remarkable feat of winning five gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games, Steve secured his first gold finish at the 1984 LA Olympic Games in the coxed fours event.

Repeating the achievement in pairs at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, 1992 Barcelona Games, and the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games before making his fifth first place at the Sydney Games in the 2000 coxless four events, Steve had achieved history defining success. Steve is the most successful Olympic rower in history, and the only male competitor to have won as many medals in an endurance sport.

Steve's achievements are put into even greater context by the knowledge that he continually battled chronic illness for a large proportion of his career. In 1992, he was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and later in 1997, Steve was diagnosed with Type 2 Mellitus Diabetes, both having an undeniable impact. The drive to overcome adversity and achieve peak performance motivated Steve, who also secured nine World Championship gold medals, three first places at the Commonwealth Games and competed in nineteen Henley Royal Regattas.

In 2000 Steve retired as one of the greatest rowers of all time and was knighted by the Queen in 2001 for his services to rowing. In 2002, his achievement of winning gold medals at five consecutive Olympic Games was voted number 1 in Channel 4’s 100 Greatest Sporting Moments and in 2011 he was recognised with a Lifetime Achievement Award by BBC Sports. A testament to his unrivalled career, Steve continues to remain relevant in the mainstream media as a presenter for sports events, like the 2012 London Olympics, and as a patron of the Jaguar Academy of Sport. In 2024, he was added to the bill for the "An Evening With..." series, telling his story. Hear from the history-defining, Olympic rowing legend yourself with an inspirational speech from Steve Redgrave, the ultimate example of the power of perseverance in overcoming adversity to achieve unparalleled success. 

Sir Steve Redgrave's inspirational career, marked by five consecutive Olympic Gold medals in rowing, exemplifies resilience and dedication. His achievements and compelling personal story make him a top choice among the 15 Official Best Motivational Speakers to Hire in the UK!