Lessons from the track: Sally Gunnell on peak performance in sport and business

Sally Gunnell OBE is an exceptional After Dinner Speaker, celebrated for holding Olympic, World, European, and Commonwealth titles simultaneously - a rare feat in athletics that cemented her legacy.

Her transition from track and field champion to sought-after motivational and wellbeing speaker showcases her versatility. With over 15 years of engaging corporate and global audiences, Sally brings a unique blend of down-to-earth realism and elite performance insight.

In this exclusive interview with The Champions Speakers Agency, Sally opens up about overcoming setbacks, maintaining peak performance, and how sport's toughest lessons are applicable both on the track and in the boardroom.

Q1. Sport has made huge strides in gender equality, but do you believe we’ve reached true parity - and what still needs to change?

Sally Gunnell: “I think we have come such a long way. You know, when I think about when I won in ’92, I was sort of like the only woman out of the five of us that won, and I had to win to get that recognition. Certainly, the pay was nowhere near the other guys that were involved in my sport.

“But to see where women’s sport has come over the last 30 years, I think it’s not just about equality around money. Yes, there are some sports that are equivalent and, yes, you can compare it, but I think it’s about media and I think it’s about coverage. 

“This isn’t just about the top end, which is the money side of it. It’s about the progress that women can have and the confidence and the programmes that are in place to bring them through.

“That comes down to media coverage, that comes down to merchandise and sponsorship, all those sorts of things. And that, to me, is what’s really important. Yes, we’re getting there, but we’re still a little way off.

“I think we just need to keep doing what we’re doing and have amazing role models, like Emma Raducanu with her tennis this weekend - unbelievable. And that is what women’s sport needs.”

Q2. From your perspective, why is it so important to encourage greater female participation in sport?

Sally Gunnell: “It’s enormously important, and to me it’s much more around the confidence and the self-esteem.

“I think there’s been lots of reports out there of just how girls that are active from a young age are much more confident in themselves, how they are mentally stronger, and just the effect that they can have within their own self-esteem and how they feel about themselves.”

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Q3. Adversity is often described as a catalyst for growth. Can you reflect on a defining moment in your career when you had to overcome it?

Sally Gunnell: “Yeah, adversity is part of life. It’s how we learn, it’s how we develop as individuals. I know I would not have been that athlete who stood on that line in Barcelona unless I’d had injuries, lost races, or been ill.

“All those sorts of things - it was about how you put it behind you, you learn the lessons, and you move on. You don’t dwell on it for the next six months and go, “If only...”It was part of it, and it made me stronger, it made me hungrier, it made me more determined. They’re all the skills that you need to perform at that high level.”

Q4. Competing at the highest level demands not only physical but also mental resilience. How did you safeguard your mental wellbeing?

Sally Gunnell: “My mental wellbeing was really important, more so then as now. I think it’s around recovery. It’s about training smart. Because you could train and work every hour of the day, but your quality of training would go down.

“If you’re not putting in the recovery, you’re not repairing the body, you’re not sleeping, you’re not having your ‘me’ time - sitting down with a cup of coffee or going for a walk outside - then you’re not giving yourself what you need. Those things are really crucial. 

“That was all part of the strategy, all part of the planning of my day: where does that recovery come in? That’s around wellbeing, and that’s how you keep your mind strong, stay positive within yourself, and kind to yourself.”

Q5. Many business leaders are searching for ways to improve workplace wellbeing. What lessons from sport can they adopt?

Sally Gunnell: “I think business leaders have to lead by example. They need to be the ones who get away from their desk at lunchtime, the ones who maybe go to sports day to watch their kids. Yes, they’ve got good work ethics, but it’s fine to sit down and have five minutes away, or to leave early from work and make up the time later.

“They need to recognise how important wellbeing is, and to have a good programme in place that supports their team. Because you are asking so many leaders are asking so much of their staff, time and time again. 

“They set the goals, they set the challenges, and once they’ve achieved that, they’re going again. That’s about recovery, that’s about supporting each other, chatting, communicating, and having some fun time together.

“I think that’s the other thing. If I think back to my training days, my coach would often vary the training we did, or we’d have a social event like going bowling or having a meal. I think that’s really key. 

“That opens up conversations, it helps you understand who each other is, and you learn something about them so that you can talk if there is a problem, knowing that you’re there to support each other.”

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Q6. Finally, when you look at both sport and business, how do you personally define peak performance?

Sally Gunnell: “Peak performance is very similar within sport and business. It’s about getting the best out of yourself to be able to perform at that high level. It’s looking at every little increment, every little percentage, and where you can improve as a person.

“That could be as a sportsperson, and it’s very similar in business. It’s around recovery, motivation, goal setting, working hard, “me” time, and building resilience. 

“It’s all those sorts of things, and it’s no different. It’s understanding that you can’t leave any one thing unturned if you want to perform day in, day out at that high level, and ask a lot of yourself.”

This exclusive interview with Sally Gunnell was conducted by Chris Tompkins of The Motivational Speakers Agency.

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