Helen is one of the most experienced members of the GB women’s team. Having started her international career in 1999 at the age of 16, she became the youngest ever woman to represent GB hockey at an Olympics in Sydney in 2000, and has gone on to compete at four Olympic Games. As part of the senior leadership group she played a central role in propelling the women’s game to victory in Rio 2016. As she stepped on to the podium alongside her team mate and wife, GB captain Kate Richardson-Walsh, they also entered Olympic history as the first same sex married couple to win an Olympic medal playing for the same team.
Over the course of her international career Helen has amassed a Commonwealth bronze and two silvers, a bronze at London 2012, and the European Championship title in 2015, before finally reaching the pinnacle of her sport when the GB hockey team beat the Netherlands in Rio. Helen was one of only two players to score during a tense penalty shootout and is recognised at world level as one of the best in the business – shortlisted for the World Player of the Year Award and named in the FIH World All Stars Team three times.
Success however has not always been assured. After glory at London 2012 Helen’s career was threatened at the age of just 23 after she suffered two ruptured discs in her back. With two rounds of back surgery, compounded by surgery on her ankle, consultants warned that it was unlikely she would ever play competitive hockey again. Forced to spend two years out of the game she missed the World Cup in 2014, and had to watch from home as her wife and team mates stumbled to a lowly 11th place. Their performance only compounded the feeling that she had lost the chance to achieve a goal that she had dedicated her life to and worked incredibly hard towards for the past fifteen years.
However Helen managed to return to the team after a two year absence. Alongside Head Coach Danny Kerry and a close knit team of senior players they put in place team values, behaviours and tactics to create a winning culture within the squad. Central to this was finding small differences that could bring big results, and forging a team spirit that was strong enough to withstand extreme pressure. ‘Be the Difference, Create History and Inspire the Future’ was their team mantra.
Helen now continues to play hockey at club level for Bloemendaal in Holland, with her wife Kate. She is also studying for a degree in psychology, inspired by her experience in battling back from injury, and her experience of elite performance and winning teams.
Helen is experienced and confident with keynotes and Q&As and can speak on the following themes:
• High performance
• Motivation and goal setting
• Fighting back from adversity
• Psychology of a team
• Leading change
• Inspiring a generation
• Diversity and inclusion