Dame Katherine Grainger took up rowing at Edinburgh University in 1993 and made such good progress she was awarded the Eva Bailey Trophy as their most outstanding female athlete in 1996 and again in 1997 when she won her first international Gold medal at the U23 World Rowing Championships.

Katherine first won silver at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 in the woman’s Quadruple Sculls. In Athens in 2004, she won silver in the coxless pairs. And, in Beijing 2008 she won her third silver, again in the Quadruple Sculls.

At the London Olympics 2012, Katherine Grainger 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.

She retired from competitive rowing in 2017 after winning her fifth medal at the 2016 Olympic Games.

Other awards include being named as Scottish Sportsperson of the Year, and being awarded the “Emirates Lonsdale Trophy” by Commonwealth Games Scotland in 2009. She’s also been elected to the British Olympic Association’s Athlete Commission and became a member of the Board for the charity ‘International Inspiration’. Grainger has been appointed as the chair of UK Sport for a term of four years.

Katherine Grainger TV Appearances

Katherine has also appeared on multiple TV shows including an appearance on the ‘Superstars’ and guest appearances on A Question of Sport, Countdown, and The Clare Balding Show.

She has also spent time working for the BBC as a co-presenter on the Rowing World Cup coverage, the BBC ‘Inspire’ series and as a pundit during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She recently commentated on the Rowing disciplines at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

In 2024, Katherine was part of the BBC’s guest presenting team at the Paris Olympic Games.

Katherine Grainger Public Motivational Speaking

Katherine is a highly sought-after keynote and after-dinner speaker. Excelling when talking of teamwork, overcoming challenges, motivation, winning and the importance of communication.

Katherine Grainger Clients: Thomsons Online Benefits, Schroders, Bank of New York Mellon, Bank of Scotland, Lloyds TSB Bank, EnergiserRoyal Bank of Scotland, The Financial Times & The Sunday Times, Goldman Sachs, Coca-Cola, BT, Dame Kelly Holmes Foundation, The Royal Society of Edinburgh, Hospitality Scotland – HIT Scotland Conference, England Women’s Football Team, English Golf Union, and Saracens Rugby Club.

Call +44 1753 439 289 or email Great British Speakers now to book Olympic rower Dame Katherine Grainger for your next live event.  Contact us.

For help finding a perfect sports motivational speaker contact Jane Farnham