Helen Richardson-Walsh, Speaker | Team GB Hockey Champion, Performance

Helen Richardson-Walsh

Speaker, Team GB Hockey Gold Medal Olympian, Performance Expert

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London

Cultivate a winning culture across any environment or industry, enabling individuals and teams to thrive with Helen Richardson-Walsh MBE, Team GB Olympic Gold Medalist and psychologist.

Helen Richardson-Walsh | Speaker Biography

Gold Medalist at Rio 2016 Olympics with GB Women's Hockey Team

First same-sex married couple to win Olympic medals together

Awarded MBE for contributions to hockey

Helen Richardson-Walsh, a renowned midfielder, began her international hockey career for Great Britain (GB) in 1999 at 17, quickly making her Olympic debut in 2000. She played a pivotal role in the GB women's team's success, participating in four Olympics and winning gold in Rio 2016. Helen and her wife, Kate Richardson-Walsh, also made history as the first same-sex married couple to win Olympic medals together.Helen's illustrious career includes a Commonwealth bronze, two silvers, a bronze at London 2012, and a European Championship in 2015. Despite facing career-threatening injuries, including back surgeries and ankle procedures, she overcame these challenges and depression, returning to lead the GB team to victory.After nearly 300 international appearances and an MBE award for her contributions to hockey, Helen now plays at club level in the UK. She is an ambassador for several organisations, holds a psychology degree, and has a master's in Organisational Psychology. In 2021, she joined Tottenham Hotspur Women as a Performance Psychologist.

’s Featured Sessions

Embracing Diversity: The Power Of Inclusivity In Team Performance

Having helped propel the women’s hockey team to victory on the world stage in Rio 2016, Helen stepped on to the podium alongside her team mate and wife, GB captain Kate Richardson-Walsh. They also entered Olympic history as the first same sex married couple to win an Olympic medal playing for the same team. Helen shares her experiences of what an inclusive environment can mean for personal performance and the importance of a team culture where diverse characters are encouraged to bring different skills to the table and given the opportunity to achieve their potential.

Inspired Goal Setting And Ultimate Focus

We all want to achieve our goals, whether individually or collectively. It gives a sense of achievement and delivers personal and business success. Get yourself on track with how to set, measure, and achieve your goals.

The Psychology And Behaviours Of A Winning Team

The GB hockey team at the Rio Olympics grabbed the headlines not just for their gold winning achievements, but for the self-evident strength of their team culture and unity. In an age of social media their decision to come off all channels for the duration of the Games was emblematic of their focus, and was a conscious decision taken as part of a collective approach to how they functioned as a team. Drawing on these themes Helen is ideally placed to shed light on the psychology of high performing teams, and to share the lessons of a 17 year career in international sport.

’s Featured Projects

Session Feedback

"Her message was powerful and meaningful. She exceeded our expectations" — Roche

"I loved the A-game task set by Helen and found this an incredibly useful exercise to do with my manager"

"... It was an absolute pleasure to work with you. Our colleagues were really engaged throughout and you gave us all a lot to reflect on. It flowed brilliantly and I am really appreciative of you leaning in topics we had discussed in advance, it meant it was pitched perfectly for our audience and tied in really nicely with the Culture and working environment we are striving to achieve."

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