Michael Gunning’s blueprint for resilience, inclusion and high performance

Michael Gunning stands out as one of Britain’s most inspiring sports speakers, recognised for his record-breaking swimming career and his advocacy for inclusivity.

Representing Jamaica at the World Championships, he has broken barriers both in the pool and beyond, championing authenticity and representation.

His story is one of resilience and courage. From surviving the Manchester Arena bombing to navigating the highs and lows of elite sport, Michael has shown that determination and self-belief can drive success even in the toughest circumstances.

In this exclusive interview with The Champions Speakers Agency, Michael shares powerful lessons from his journey, highlighting how trust, teamwork and vulnerability can transform both sporting performance and business leadership.

Q1. From your perspective, what does true inclusivity in the workplace look like, and why does it matter for employee well-being?

Michael Gunning: “I think the word inclusive within businesses doesn’t actually mean to include any more, which I think is amazing. I think it’s now all about involving people and actually involving people in all different aspects of the employment ladder. 

“Like I said, bringing your full self to work every day is so, so important and I think that’s for your mental health, I think that’s for your well-being.

“Actually having that inclusive space, having that open conversation with employees, with people around you, really does make the biggest difference. Personally, throughout my career, when team-mates asked me questions about my race or my sexuality it just allowed me to feel valued. 

“I feel like the best way to allow workplaces to be inclusive is to allow everybody within the organisation to feel valued and just happy.

“I think when you share, when you collaborate, when you work together, it just allows everyone to feel valued and learn off each other. Personally, I’ve learned so much from so many of my team-mates and my coaches. 

“Swimming is definitely not an individual sport, I think despite what people say it is amazing when you’ve got your team around you, and I really see corporate businesses being the same - working together for one mission and ultimately achieving a goal.”

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Q2. As someone who has broken national records, what lessons have you learned about setting and pursuing ambitious goals?

Michael Gunning: “I think goal setting is at the heart of all success. I think everyone’s journey is very different. I know that my athletic career has been very different to many athletes around me, but for me setting short-term, medium-term and long-term goals has really allowed me to be where I am today.

“I think all athletes, I think all corporate business people, have been through many highs and lows. Personally, I was caught up in the Manchester Arena bombing and three months later I competed in the World Championships, and it was really tough to have to shift that mindset. 

“Another experience I had was I qualified for the Olympic Games in Tokyo. After the pandemic I didn’t re-qualify, and again I had to bounce back from being at the hardest lows of my career.

“I feel like everyone’s journey is very different, but for me goal setting and taking one day at a time, not looking too far ahead, is what got me through as an athlete - and I’m sure it’s what gets many business people through. 

“I think it’s so easy to look forward and to look in the future and to see what you want, but actually working together, bringing it back, setting goals one by one and ultimately ticking them off one by one is the way forward.”

Q3. What insights from elite sport can businesses apply to build and sustain high-performance teams?

Michael Gunning: “I think many people forget that a swimming pool, a gym, was actually my workplace. Despite not having a 9-to-5 like many high-performance teams in corporate spaces do, actually committing to a goal, a high-level goal, a high-performance goal, was something that we had to do every single day, for me for many, many years.

“I think there is so much pressure on that high-performance work, but ultimately, I could not have done it without a team behind me. Swimming is definitely not an individual sport, despite what people may think.

“I would not be where I am today without my coaches, my psychologists, my nutritionists, without my team-mates. Working collaboratively is so important, it’s such a vital skill.

“I feel like with me coming in as well, it allows a different perspective. Sometimes sharing different experiences, goals, just allows people to feel valued but also pulls you together, working towards that high-performance goal.

“I think when we stand on the starting block in swimming, we might be on our own, but it’s definitely the team behind me that got me there. 

“We need that trust, we need that understanding, and I think everyone within that high-performance team will know the pressures that come with it - whether you’re in corporate spaces or whether you’re on a starting block in a swimming pool.

“Effective leadership is another key value. Personally, I trained with Adam Peaty and when we were training sometimes he was a little bit low, he needed motivation, and it was down to me to step up to help motivate him and almost lead him to go on to achieve what he has today. 

“I think we’re all on a very different journey, but without us each stepping up when we can, when we feel that opportunity to step up and support other people around us, I think that’s when we can go and achieve a goal.”

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Q4. When you speak at events or host your podcast, what do you most want people to take away from your story?

Michael Gunning: “I hope audiences will step away and feel empowered and inspired by my talk. Personally, I’ll be taking everyone on a roller coaster of emotions. I’ve got many different experiences to share that I really hope many people will take lots of different things from - from my race, from my background, from my sexuality.

“I think there are so many different things and nuggets that people can take and hopefully put into their everyday working life.

“One thing I really love is Q&As, because I feel like I get such a wide range of diverse questions. I think everyone will take something very different away from my talks, and I think Q&As really allow people to have that voice, to get out of the talks what they would like to get out of.

“So, I really look forward to sharing my story with everyone.”

This exclusive interview with Michael Gunning was conducted by Chris Tompkins of The Motivational Speakers Agency.

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