Dame Katherine Grainger DBE is Britain’s most successful female rower.
With five Olympic medals total made up of one gold and four silver, Katherine is the only female athlete, in any sport, to gain medals in five consecutive Olympic Games.
This honour saw her awarded a DBE in the 2013 New Years Honours.
Katherine won silver at the Sydney 2000 Olympics in the woman’s Quadruple Sculls.
In Athens 2004, she won silver in the coxless pairs.
In Beijing 2008 she won her third silver, again in the Quadruple Sculls.
At London 2012, Katherine and Anna Watkins broke the Olympic record as they qualified for the Double Sculls final, before going on to win the gold medal.
Katherine has also won eight medals at World Championships, between 1997 and 2011.
On the 11 August 2016 at the Rio Olympic Games, Katherine became the most decorated female Olympian of all time winning a silver medal with Victoria Thornley in the Double Scull, narrowly missing the gold after leading for 3/4 of the race.
For many who had not expected this pairing to even qualify for Rio, their result was outstanding and propelled Katherine into the history books.
Katherine’s achievements have been rewarded with a host of prestigious awards. These have included, being named as Scottish Sportsperson of the Year and awarded the “Emirates Lonsdale Trophy” by Commonwealth Games Scotland in 2009 – this made her the first female to win this prestigious award, and in the process leaving such Scottish sporting luminaries as Andy Murray and Sir Chris Hoy in her wake.
Katherine has been appointed as the chair of UK Sport for a term of four years, Sports Minister Tracey Crouch confirmed on the 21st April 2017.
Katherine graduated in law from Edinburgh University, then went on to achieve an MPhil in Medical Law and Medical Ethics from Glasgow University, and in May 2013 completed a PhD in the sentencing of homicide at King’s College, University of London. In March 2015 Katherine was inaugurated as Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University, a role she will hold for a 7-year tenure. Katherine is eager to be part of shaping the future of the University and credits her own extensive time in academia for helping shape her rowing career.
Dame Katherine Grainger – Motivational Speaker
Dame Katherine Grainger is a highly sought after keynote and after-dinner speaker.
Katherine excels when talking of teamwork, overcoming challenges, motivation, winning and the importance of communication.
She has delivered speeches, telling a compelling tale of the journey to success to some of the most prestigious companies across the world.
Clients have included, the Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, Goldman Sachs, Coca Cola and BT.
Dame Katherine’s ability to dominate in the sporting arena while also gaining a PhD at one of the top 25 universities in the world has cemented her status as one of the most in-demand corporate speakers on the circuit.
