About Sally Gunnell
Sally Gunnell OBE is one of Britain’s most respected sporting figures. Best known for winning gold in the 400m hurdles at the 1992 Barcelona Olympic Games, Sally went on to become the first woman in history to simultaneously hold Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles, an extraordinary achievement that cemented her place in British sporting history.
In 1993, Sally broke the world record in the 400m hurdles, a performance that remains a British record and established her as one of the greatest athletes of her generation. Her sporting success was built not only on physical training but also on a deep understanding of mindset and performance psychology.
Throughout her career, Sally recognised that success relied just as heavily on mental resilience as physical ability. She developed techniques focused on visualisation, goal setting and imagining peak performance, using mindset training to help achieve success at the very highest level. These principles played a key role in helping her secure Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth titles and continue to shape the practical, relatable insights she shares today.
Following retirement from elite athletics, Sally joined the BBC Sport team, becoming a familiar face across athletics coverage throughout the 2000s. As a regular trackside reporter and presenter, she brought major sporting moments into homes across the UK and has since appeared on programmes including A Question of Sport, Total Wipeout and regular breakfast television and radio interviews.
Alongside broadcasting, Sally has dedicated much of her career to helping people better understand health, fitness and wellbeing through accessible, realistic and easy-to-apply principles. Balancing commercial work, charitable commitments, family life and personal wellbeing, she brings a refreshingly honest perspective on maintaining performance while creating balance and fulfilment.
Drawing on her remarkable experiences both on and off the track, Sally shares practical lessons on resilience, teamwork, healthy habits, motivation and sustaining success, offering audiences a powerful insight into what it really takes to perform at their best.
To book Keynote Speaker Sally Gunnell, Contact The Speakers Agency on +44(0)1332 810481 or email enquiries@thespeakersagency.com
Client Feedback
"What an inspiration Sally Gunnell is. Hearing her talk about the life-changing journey she undertook, as she evolved from a 15 year old runner dreaming of greatness into an Olympic gold medal-winning champion, was both empowering and moving. Here at BT we are on a transformational journey of our own and it was a thrill for over 1,000 of us to hear Sally relate her experiences of overcoming setbacks and embracing change to the pioneering work we are doing as a technology company. “Run your own race” was Sally’s parting message: wise words from a fantastic role model, who also took the time to speak personally with as many of us as possible, helping to turn our day into a memorable occasion that will stay with us all for a very long time."
MD at IT and BT Technology Volunteering lead
"Sally is such an inspiration. She is down to earth and a brilliant motivational speaker. At the Women in Construction Awards 2012 she had everyone on the edge of their seats, you could even hear a pin drop. All of our guests loved her. I would definitely recommend her as a speaker."
Excel Publishing
"Sally’s speech was highly inspirational and motivational. Her story, while unrelated to our profession, was easily translatable to our line of work. She went down a storm with our delegates and would be an ideal speaker for virtually any audience."
IRMS
"We wanted Sally's talk to be motivational and it certainly was! Guests spoke afterwards about the hairs of the back of their neck standing on end, when she showed winning the gold at Barcelona. The event was a huge success and Sally was pivotal in that success."
Gravesham Borough Council
"The girls were full of Sally Gunnell’s talk after the event. Girls have told their teachers they have been inspired in their sport and academic studies to aim high. At a Parents’ evening two days later parents were volunteering positive comments about the visit and explaining that their daughters had recounted the messages given by Sally. I have no doubt that Sally’s wise words will stay with the girls for many, many years"
St Albans' High School for Girls
