Thomas Bach is the 9th President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and an Olympic gold medallist, becoming the first-ever Olympic champion to be elected as the IOC President. Drawing from his extensive experience in the worlds of sport, law and politics, Thomas is an influential speaker who can tailor his knowledge for a range of audiences.
As a competitor in sport, Thomas was a foil fencer who won a gold medal in fencing in the team foil event at the 1976 Montreal Olympics and was a two-time world champion before competing in his last competitive international match in 1980. With a Law and Politics degree from the University of Würzburg and a PhD in law, Thomas founded his own law firm and worked in various high-profile organisations, including serving as Economic Adviser for the German liberal party FDP, Director of International Relations at Adidas and Member of the Board of Administration of Siemens. Becoming an IOC member in 1991, Thomas was then elected as a member of the IOC Executive Board. He was named as the Founding President of the German Olympic Sports Confederation before serving as the IOC Vice-President for more than 10 years. In 2013, he was elected President of the IOC, securing his place in history as the first-ever Olympic champion in history to hold the position. Thomas stepped down from the role in 2025, continuing within the committee as Honorary President.
Gaining major global recognition for his impact in sport, Thomas has received numerous state honours from countries including Hungary, Greece, Poland, South Korea and Japan, alongside two honorary doctorates from the University of Tsukuba in Japan and Universidad Católica de Murcia in Spain. To honour his distinguished contributions to the Olympics, Thomas received the Gold Olympic Order, the highest ward of the Olympic Movement, the European Olympic Committees Order of Merit and the Seoul Peace Prize from the Republic of Korea.
An accomplished leader of one of the largest and most prestigious sporting institutions in the world, Thomas speaks with authority on leadership, unity, resilience and innovation. He has delivered engaging keynotes to various industries, including Fortune 500 executives, policymakers and emerging leaders. To hear about Thomas Bach’s exciting Olympic career, hire him today for your next event via Champions Speakers.
Thomas Bach's official speaking topics are listed below:
The Future Plays On: What the Olympics Taught Us About Leadership, Unity, and Resilience
In this powerful and timely keynote, Thomas Bach, former President of the International Olympic Committee, shares strategic lessons in global leadership, crisis management, and diplomacy from one of the most unprecedented moments in modern sports history—the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 held during a global pandemic. As the leader responsible for uniting governments, health agencies, sponsors, and athletes across continents, Bach offers a rare insider’s view into high-stakes decision-making and cross-border collaboration under extreme pressure. In today’s fractured and polarized world, his insights resonate far beyond sport, offering business leaders a blueprint for bridging divides, aligning global teams, and leading with clarity, purpose, and resilience.
Exclusive Access to the Olympic Games: Leadership, Innovation, Global Impact
As former President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach shares a rare insider’s look at the inner workings of one of the world’s most influential and unifying institutions. In this compelling keynote, he provides behind-the-scenes stories of how Olympic host cities are selected, how global partnerships are forged, and how the Games are built to inspire the world. Drawing on his groundbreaking reforms like Olympic Agenda 2020 and 2020+5—strategic blueprints which modernised the Olympic Movement by focusing on sustainability, inclusivity, credibility, and long-term global impact—Bach explores how values-based leadership, innovation, and ethical decision-making can drive meaningful change. With themes that resonate across industries, his insights illuminate what it takes to lead with integrity, adapt in a rapidly changing world, and build inclusive, purpose-driven organisations on a global stage.
- 2025 - Stepped down as IOC President, became Honorary President
- 2025 - Awarded Gold Olympic Order
- 2020 - Received Seoul Peace Prize from Republic of Korea
- 2015-16 - Received honorary doctorates from University of Tsukuba and Universidad Católica de Murcia
- 2014 - Awarded European Olympic Committees Order of Merit
- 2013 - Elected as President of IOC
- 2006 - Named Founding President of German Olympic Sports Confederation
- 2000 - Became IOC Vice-President
- 2000 - Became member of Board of Administration of Siemens AG
- 1996 - Member of IOC Executive Board
- 1991 - Became an IOC member
- 1991 - Economic Adviser for German liberal party FDP
- 1985 - Director of International Relations at Adidas
- 1983 - Graduated with PhD in Law
- 1982 - Founded own law firm
- 1980 - Competed in last competitive international fencing match
- 1978 - Graduated with Law & Politics degree from University of Würzburg
- 1976 - Won gold medal in fencing at Montreal Olympics
How to hire Thomas Bach
Contact the Champions Speakers Agency to provisionally enquire about hiring Thomas Bach 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.
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