Sally Gunnell
Sally Gunnell – Olympic Gold Medallist & Motivational Speaker & Wellbeing Speaker
Sally Gunnell is an Olympic Athlete and 2022 marks her 30th anniversary of winning gold at the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, in 400m hurdles.
In addition to her Gold Medal Sally won at the Olympics she has also won Commonwealth Games Medals –
- 1994 Gold medalin Victoria
- 1994 Gold medalin Victoria (4*400m relay)
- 1990 Gold medalin Auckland
- 1990 Gold medalin Auckland (4*400m relay)
- 1986 Gold medalin Edinburgh (100m hurdles)
Following her retirement from international athletics, Sally developed a new career as a television presenter and motivational speaker. She has written four books on fitness, health, self-fulfilment and well-being.
Today Sally is a working mother of three boys who uses her phenomenal athletics career to inspire and empower others, from families to corporates, to achieve their goals. The synergy between sport and business has allowed Sally to get people to believe in their own ability and become the very best that they can be.
Sally Gunnell Keynote speaking:
Sally still regularly delivers her motivational and inspirational keynotes round her two incredible journeys, first to Olympic Gold (1992) and then the following year winning gold at the Worlds (1993).
Her journey to Olympic gold tracks the trials and tribulations to achieving her childhood dream. The processes she needed to put in place, as well as working on the missing piece of the puzzle – mental strength, overcoming self-doubt, using the power of visualisation! It was about executing the perfect race. Controlling only what she could control! Running her own race.
Her journey to gold at the World champ gold the following year, was where she really learnt a lot about herself. Having achieved her childhood dream the previous year, where would she find the motivation from to perform again under the pressure of the world stage. To add to that pressure Sally was not fighting fit. Suffering with a bad cold, how easy would it have been not to take part. She had the perfect excuse. But that was not what Sally was about! Drawing heavily on the power of the mind, locking away that inner voice of self-doubt!
KEYNOTES
Unlocking High Performance — Lessons for Life, Business, and Teams – Explore what it takes to perform at your best when it matters most. In this powerful keynote, Sally shares the mindset, discipline, and resilience that took her from Olympic hopeful to world champion — and how those same principles apply to business and leadership. This session is packed with inspiration and practical strategies for individuals and teams striving to reach their full potential.
- Performing under pressure — as an individual and as a team
- Setting clear goals and staying motivated through setbacks
- Developing personal resilience and mental strength
- Building a winning team mindset and collaborative culture
Sustaining Excellence — Beyond the Podium –Winning once is a milestone. Sustaining success is a mindset. This keynote explores what it really takes to maintain high performance over time — and how to balance ambition with wellbeing. Sally shares lessons on leadership, legacy, and staying energised without burning out. Ideal for organisations focused on long-term growth and impact.
- Maintaining personal energy and team motivation over time
- Avoiding burnout while driving results and leading others
- Leading through change with clarity and calm
- Creating lasting personal and professional impact
New Talk for 2025
- Understanding wellbeing as a key driver of performance
- Practical strategies to manage stress and build mental strength
- Fostering a healthy, supportive workplace culture
- Enhancing team resilience through shared wellbeing values
On behalf of my colleagues at the ICFM, I am writing to extend a big “thank you” to Sally for doing such a terrific job at our Conference on Wednesday.
We had a record number of delegates in attendance and the day was a complete success, with Sally playing a significant part in this achievement.
Her motivational and illuminating talk was spot on, and we have already received some excellent feedback from a number of delegates who attended to say how much they enjoyed her contribution on the day.
Please pass on our sincere thanks and appreciation to Sally for a job very well done
— Director, The Institute of Car Fleet Management
Just a short note to say how fabulous Sally was today. She was so professional and accommodating – a real pleasure to work with. Her after lunch speech was excellent; perfectly judged for the audience and you could literally hear a pin drop whilst she was talking. I’ve had lots of really positive comments from our guests saying how much they enjoyed it already. I’d also like to thank her for letting so many of our team have photos taken with her – and for letting them hold her medals – they really appreciated the time she gave to them. Sally’s talk perfectly accompanied the theme of our employee awards event and I’d have no hesitation in recommending her to anyone looking for a top-notch presenter who is capable of really engaging with any audience.
— Head of Communications, Support Services Babcock International
We are delighted to announce Sally as the ambassador of our Partners in Sport programme and believe that her achievements in the sporting world will be inspirational to all our Partners. Not only will Sally be promoting the importance of a healthy and active lifestyle across the business, she’ll also be spending time with Partners to explain how they can transfer the skills they have learned during the coaching qualification, back into their day-to-day roles.
— Development Manager, Partners in Sport, John Lewis Partnership
