Derek Redmond
Olympian Derek Redmond inspires organizations to overcome adversity, build mental resilience, and achieve peak performance through his powerful story of perseverance and success.
Why you should book Derek Redmond for your next event
- Recognized by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union address, Derek embodies the spirit of perseverance, making his story a global inspiration for turning adversity into achievement.
- Having delivered over 1,000 keynotes to more than one million people, Derek combines storytelling, strategy, and energy to create transformative experiences that leave lasting impact on audiences globally.
- Voted among the Top 10 Motivational Speakers for Corporate Events by Global Gurus (2025), Derek’s keynotes have transformed audiences worldwide with his message of grit, growth, and determination.
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The Power of Persistence: Turning Setbacks into Success
Olympic champion and world-record holder turned performance strategist, Derek Redmond inspires organizations to achieve excellence through resilience, teamwork, and purpose. Renowned for his iconic Olympic story and corporate leadership success, Derek transforms adversity into actionable insights that empower teams to perform at their peak. With proven expertise from the world’s largest psychometric company, he helps leaders unlock potential, foster inclusion, and build high-performance cultures.
Keynote Speaker Derek Redmond is a world-renowned symbol of resilience, determination, and peak performance. Best known for his unforgettable moment at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, where he defied injury to finish the race with his father by his side, Derek has become one of the most inspiring figures in sports and motivational speaking. His powerful story of perseverance, teamwork, and mental strength now serves as a blueprint for organizations seeking to unlock human potential and build high-performance cultures.
With a career that spans Olympic success, professional basketball, and corporate leadership, Derek combines real-world experience with actionable insights. As the former Group Performance Director of Thomas International, the world’s largest psychometric assessment company, he understands what drives people and performance at every level of business. His keynotes inspire audiences to embrace change, overcome adversity, and achieve excellence through mindset, inclusion, and collaboration.
Organizations that book Derek Redmond for their event gain more than inspiration, they gain practical tools to strengthen resilience, boost motivation, and create unity within teams. Derek’s sessions challenge conventional thinking and ignite a renewed sense of purpose among leaders and employees alike.
Whether addressing global corporations or industry conferences, Keynote Speaker Derek Redmond delivers unforgettable keynotes that empower individuals to rise stronger, lead with purpose, and perform at their best, no matter the challenge.
Keynotes
Keynote by Derek Redmond:
Diversity & Inclusion
As a prominent Black athlete, Derek Redmond experienced significant racism throughout his career. At events, he shares his powerful story to educate audiences, teaching them the importance of inclusive, accepting workplaces. Diversity has the potential to spark innovation and nurture high-performance teamwork, reflecting the importance of Derek’s speaking topic.
Keynote by Derek Redmond:
Dealing with Change
In the world of sport, change can come thick and fast. One second you are the World Champion, the next your title has been taken and you are faced with another uphill battle to the top. Derek Redmond uses this experience of change management to impart such valuable life lessons at events. Attendees come away motivated to raise the bar in their own lives.
Keynote by Derek Redmond:
Resilience
From goal-setting to dealing with failure, Derek Redmond’s speaking topics include a wealth of strategies for mental resilience. Having stared failure in the face at the 1992 Olympic Games, when Derek suffered a career-ending injury, he learned the importance of adaption and self-motivation. At events, audiences learn how Derek transitioned from sport to business, thanks to his mental resilience.
Keynote by Derek Redmond:
High-Performance Teams
Derek Redmond’s knowledge of high-performance teamwork stems from his 1991 victory over the formidable American team, at the World Championships. The British team’s performance reflected Derek’s communication skills, a key factor of his speaking topic. At events, he uses this story to inspire unity in workplace teams, improving performance and wellbeing.
Keynote by Derek Redmond:
Motivation & Inspiration
Derek Redmond believes that sport is a business, and business is a sport. They are intrinsically linked, so the skills of one can be translated to the other. As an athlete turned businessman, Derek uses his knowledge of maximising success to benefit corporate audiences, teaching them the secrets of ‘going for gold’.
The Sat Nav in you! | Derek Redmond | TEDxSwansea
Watch Derek Redmond in action!
