Helen Richardson-Walsh is a former Great Britain and England hockey player, Olympic gold medallist, author,
and trainee sport psychologist. She began her international hockey career in 1999 at just 17 years old, making
history the following year in Sydney as the youngest woman to represent GB hockey at an Olympic Games.
Over an impressive 18-year career, Helen competed in four Olympic Games, earning 293 caps and 19 medals,
including Olympic bronze in London 2012, European gold in 2015, and ultimately, an Olympic gold medal in Rio
2016. Helen played a pivotal role in Rio, being one of only two players to score during a nail-biting penalty
shootout in the final and earning recognition as one of the best in the world.
As a member of the senior leadership team for 11 years, Helen was instrumental in transforming the team
from inconsistent performers to consistent medal contenders on the world stage. She attributes this success to
the strong team culture that was built, which sparked her passion for understanding how the right
environments can help people and teams flourish. This interest led her to pursue studies in Psychology, and
with two Master’s degrees in Organisational and Sport Psychology, she now applies her experience and
knowledge to help other teams and individuals thrive.
Helen, together with her wife Kate, made history as the first same sex married couple to win Olympic gold on
the same team. In their book, Winning Together, they share powerful lessons from their journey with the
Great Britain hockey team and offer tools to help others become their best selves and build better teams.
Today, Helen works as a trainee sport psychologist within Olympic and professional teams and is a sought-after
keynote speaker, focusing on topics she is passionate about, including culture, leadership, team dynamics,
personal growth, mental health, diversity, and equality.
