Dame Katherine Grainger DBE

One of London 2012’s shining stars, inspirational rower Dame Katherine Grainger DBE is Britain's most decorated female Olympian, winning medals at five consecutive Olympic Games. Adept in facing adversity and unimaginable challenges Katherine’s momentous success story speaks to all audiences on the rewards of fierce determination. The world champion offers insights into leadership, teamwork and the key to success.

Dame Katherine Grainger DBE is one of the UK’s most accomplished Olympians and a senior figure in British sport, currently serving as Chair of the British Olympic Association. She is the only female athlete in the UK to have won medals at five consecutive Olympic Games, with a total of one gold and four silver medals in rowing. Her achievements span a two-decade career at the highest levels of international sport and have been recognised through national honours including a CBE in 2013 and a DBE in 2017.

Katherine first began rowing while studying at the University of Edinburgh in 1993. Her rapid progress in the sport led to her being named the university’s most outstanding female athlete in both 1996 and 1997. That same year, she secured her first international gold medal at the U23 World Rowing Championships. From there, she continued to compete at the top level of her sport, combining athletic excellence with academic ambition.

Her Olympic journey began at the Sydney Games in 2000, where she won silver in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls. She went on to win silver again in Athens (2004, Coxless Pairs) and Beijing (2008, Quadruple Sculls), before winning gold at London 2012 in the Double Sculls with Anna Watkins, setting an Olympic record during the competition. She returned to the Olympic stage once more in Rio in 2016 to win her final silver, bringing her medal total to five. In addition to her Olympic success, Katherine also secured eight medals at World Championships between 1997 and 2011.

Beyond competition, Katherine has played a significant role in sport governance and advocacy. She was appointed Chair of UK Sport in 2017, a role she held for six years, and has since taken on the Chair of the British Olympic Association. She has also been elected to the British Olympic Association’s Athlete Commission and held a board position with the charity International Inspiration, which aims to use sport as a tool for development and inclusion.

Katherine has a strong academic background, holding a PhD in law from King’s College London. She has been widely recognised for her ability to balance elite sport with education and broader public service. Her contributions have been acknowledged through several awards, including being named Scottish Sportsperson of the Year and receiving the Emirates Lonsdale Trophy from Commonwealth Games Scotland in 2009.

Alongside her sporting and leadership roles, Katherine has contributed to media coverage of sport, working with the BBC as a co-presenter and pundit, including during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She has also made guest appearances on television programmes such as A Question of Sport, Countdown, Superstars, and The Clare Balding Show.

Katherine is frequently invited to speak at corporate and public events, where she shares her insights on resilience, leadership, performance under pressure, and the pursuit of long-term goals. Her experience across high-performance sport, academia, and governance makes her a credible and trusted voice on a range of subjects relevant to business, education, and organisational development.