World Champion and Olympic swimmer
Karen represented her country at a senior level for 20 years during which time she won more major championship medals for Britain than any other female swimmer and won the most Commonwealth medals for England of any female athlete in any sport. She has twice held a World Record and has competed at four consecutive Olympic Games.
Karen Pickering has
been an outstanding member of the British swimming squad since 1986 and
has a collection of winning medals that include 8 World Championship 14
European Championship medals, 38 National Championship titles, and a
Commonwealth Games medal haul of 13 including 4 Gold.
For her services to swimming Karen was awarded an MBE in the 1994 New Years Honours List.
Karen has amassed a
vast amount of knowledge on motivation, determination, and winning
against all odds. As a motivational speaker she is able to tailor
presentations to suit the needs of any client.
Karen is a determined,
strong-minded, driven individual who can offer views and comparisons
between business and sport and she can deliver valuable lessons from
which industries large and small can derive benefit. She understands
self-motivation and also what it takes to be a team player.
Having recently
announce her retirement after over 20 years swimming at the highest
level Karen is now turning her skills to other activities. In fact
Karen has already taken up a part-time post as The Ambassador for Sport
for Ipswich. This sees her lending her vast experience and standing
within both the swimming and wider sporting arena to develop sport in
and around her ‘adopted’ home town.
Originally born and
schooled in Brighton, Karen moved to Ipswich in 1989 to train with her
coach of 18 years coach, Dave Champion. Since then she has become a
well-known face in the region. And her many television appearances –
ranging from A Question of Sport to Breakfast with Frost to Ready
Steady Cook - have helped to make her a recognisable face across the
country.
However, retirement
will not be a quiet time for Karen. Her media profile, combined with
her sporting achievements and experiences, are proving a popular draw
on the speaking circuit. Karen has in the past been invited to provide
motivational talks and after-dinner speeches by a range of
organisations and blue-chip companies. With extra time on her hands she
will be expanding this side of her repertoire.
Having recently
announce her retirement after over 20 years swimming at the highest
level Karen is now turning her skills to other activities. In fact
Karen has already taken up a part-time post as The Ambassador for Sport
for Ipswich. This sees her lending her vast experience and standing
within both the swimming and wider sporting arena to develop sport in
and around her ‘adopted’ home town.
In addition, Karen is
Chair of the British Athlete's Commission, sits on the Executive Board
for both the British Olympic Association and the English Institute of
Sport and is a member of the Sports Advisory group for LOCOG (London
2012).
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