Kate Richardson-Walsh

Leadership and Performance Coach, Virgin Media

London

Kate, the most capped female British player with 375 appearances and double Olympic medallist, captained the side for thirteen years in a career spanning 18 years, from 1999-2016. Representing Great Britain in 4 Olympic Games, Kate won bronze at London 2012, having suffered a fractured jaw early in the Games. She finally stood at the top of the podium with her teammates in Rio 2016. Over the course of her 18-year career, Kate amassed 20 medals, alongside her Olympic medals, these included: World Cup bronze, European gold and Commonwealth silver.

Since Rio, Kate has used her insight and expertise to help teams and individuals thrive in both sport and business settings. She currently works across different industries as a leadership and team effectiveness coach, including Virgin Media. She also coaches Hampstead & Westminster HC women’s first team. Kate is an ambassador for Access Sport and Women’s Sport Trust and has served on a number of Athlete Commissions including the British Olympic Association, Federation of International Hockey and European Olympic Committee.

In Rio, Kate, alongside her wife Helen, also entered Olympic history as the first same sex married couple to win an Olympic medal playing for the same team. Today they deliver their learning in companies and schools and are hugely respected for their humble approach and appetite to help others achieve their potential. Passionate about sharing their stories and breaking down negative taboos and barriers, they continue to work with charities, which support like-minded people. Helen and Kate currently serve as ambassadors for the charity Access Sport, they proactively support disability hockey and powerfully share their experiences of mental health and being LGBTQ+ as passionate activists and supporters of equality and justice for all people. Helen and Kate are proud Mums to their daughter, Pfeiffer.