Dame Katherine Grainger DBE

Originally from Glasgow, Katherine discovered her passion for rowing while at the University of Edinburgh, where she was studying law. At this institution, she was awarded the Eva Bailey Trophy as the university's most outstanding female athlete in 1996 and again in 1997 after winning her first international Gold medal at the U23 World Rowing Championships. Following her graduation, she went on to achieve an MPhil in Medical Law and Medical Ethics from Glasgow University and completed her PhD in the sentencing of homicide at King's College, University of London.

Continuing to compete at an international level, she was named Scottish Sportsperson of the Year in 2009 and awarded the “Emirates Lonsdale Trophy” by Commonwealth Games Scotland, becoming the first woman to win this award.

Making her dreams come true, Katherine secured the Olympic Gold medal alongside her teammate Anna Watkins at the London 2012 Olympics in double sculls. Since then, Katherine has been shortlisted for the 2012 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to rowing in the 2013 New Year's honours list, appeared on the Superstars television show, and has been a guest on Question of Sport, the Clare Balding Show on BT Sport, and Countdown.

During a two-week break from rowing while completing her PhD, she wrote her autobiography 'Dreams Do Come True’ and worked with the BBC as a co-presenter on the Rowing World Cup coverage, the 'Inspire' series, and as a pundit during the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Her extensive television experience helped her develop a captivating hosting style. She spent her spare time visiting schools and sports clubs, honing her natural talents as a keynote and after-dinner speaker.

Returning to competitive rowing in late 2014, Katherine competed alongside Victoria Thornley at the 2015 World Rowing Championships, qualifying them for the Rio Olympics in 2016. Here, Katherine became the most decorated female Olympian of all time, winning a silver medal. 

Katherine is not only Britain's most successful female rower but the only female athlete in any sport to win medals in four consecutive Olympic Games.

In March 2015, Katherine was inaugurated as Chancellor of Oxford Brookes University and, following a rewarding five years in this role, became the first female Chancellor of the University of Glasgow. This was particularly exciting as she was born in Glasgow, presenting an opportunity to return to the university where she received her master's degree and take an active part in shaping its future. 

The finishing touch to an exceptional two-decade rowing career came in 2017 when Katherine was named a Dame in the New Year's Honours List for her services to rowing and charity. 

Dame Katherine Grainger now invests her time in her role as Chair at UK Sport, a high-performance agency in the UK, and as a popular keynote and after-dinner speaker. Her talks can be tailored to special occasions and focus on topics such as teamwork, motivation, overcoming challenges, winning, and the importance of effective communication.