Eilidh McIntyre

Eilidh McIntyre is an Olympic Gold Medallist in the Women’s 470 Sailing Class in Tokyo 2020. Coming from an athletic family, she followed in her father’s footsteps, a Gold Medallist in the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games to become one of the leading sailors in the 470 class. The first British father and child to earn an Olympic Gold, Eilidh’s athletic journey is very inspirational. Overcoming adversity and rallying through setbacks, she reveals the secrets to her success in her speaking engagements.

Raised on the charming Hayling Island, from an early age Eilidh began sailing. Showing great promise and inspired by her father’s Olympic Gold medal, she joined the British Sailing Team aged 15 with the goal to earn her own Gold at the Olympic Games. She won her first senior medal aged 18 and over the next 12 years, took part in several prestigious competitions. In partnership with Sophie Weguelin, she won the US Sailing’s Miami Olympic Classes Regatta in 2014 and a bronze medal at the 2015 470 European Championship. Narrowly missing out on competing in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, Eilidh was devastated.

However, still seeking to earn an Olympic Gold medal, she teamed with Hannah Mills, and they launched their campaign to represent Team GB at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Over the next four years, the pair won several medals at prestigious competitions, including the 470 World Championships, winning silver in 2017 and gold in 2019. Reaping the rewards of their hard work, the duo were selected to represent Team GB in 2020. Shortly after their selection, disaster struck with the Covid pandemic resulting in severe restrictions and the delay of the 2020 Olympic Games.

A setback of that nature can seriously impact the performance of an elite athlete, but one that Eilidh overcame in the summer of 2021 when she won an Olympic Gold for Britain. Announcing her retirement from the sport in 2023, Eilidh has led an illustrious career, won several medals and earned the World Sailor of the Year Award in 2021. She received an MBE for services to sailing in 2022 and has been featured on the cover of Chasing Tokyo. In addition to being the host of the podcast Out of the Shadows, she is now a highly sought-after speaker, translating her journey as an elite athlete into the business world. Speaking on overcoming adversity, building cohesive teams and achieving peak performance, Eilidh is the perfect motivational speaker to hire.