Helen Richardson-Walsh

A British hockey legend, Helen Richardson-Walsh was part of Team GB’s historic Olympic winning team in 2016. One of the most capped players to ever represent her country, this Olympic victory also saw her, and her partner Kate, become the first-ever same-sex married couple to win an Olympic gold together and the first British married couple to do so since 1920. When booked as an LGBT speaker, Helen can discuss her extensive career, LGBT representation and how she coped with mental health issues throughout her life, including depression.

As well as the huge Olympic success in 2016, Helen won countless other honours during her sporting career. This included a bronze medal at the Olympics in 2012, three Commonwealth Games medals and gold at the EuroHockey Nations Championship in 2015. Following her successful sporting career, Helen has continued to offer her expert insight on the game as a hockey pundit and has appeared on the likes of BT Sport and BBC Radio 5Live. She’s also become well-known for her relationship with fellow Team GB hockey player Kate Richardson-Walsh and the pair married in 2013. When booked as an LGBT speaker Helen can talk about what it’s like achieving sporting greatness alongside her wife, such representation inspiring audiences to be their truest selves.

When aged just seven years old Helen joined West Bridgford Hockey Club and went on to make her England debut at 17 years old in 1999. The following year she became the youngest ever female hockey player to represent Team GB when she competed at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. A passionate fan of Tottenham Hotspur and proud member of the LGBT+ community, Helen has been a patron of the team’s LGBT+ group, Proud Lilywhites, since 2014. When booked as an LGBT speaker, she promotes the importance of groups like Proud Lilywhites and the power of LGBT empowerment.

As well as this she is an ambassador for Access Sport a charity dedicated to giving children everywhere access to a wide range of quality local sport.  Helen Richardson-Walsh is a great choice of LGBT speaker whose sporting excellence partnered with her natural charisma and likeable personality make her a hit time and time again. At events, she can discuss her journey as a member of the LGBT community, including the importance of mainstream representation, mental health access and support from her peers.