Four Times Olympic Champion & America’s Cup Skipper
England
United Kingdom
Sir Ben Ainslie CBE is Great Britain’s quadruple gold and silver Olympic medallist and the world’s most successful Olympic sailor. Having won medals in five consecutive Olympic medals, the last four being gold, Ben famously skippered Team Oracle in the 2014 America’s Cup leading one of sports greatest ever comebacks from 0-6 to 8-8 and win 9-8 in the match races over Emirates, New Zealand.
Ben’s father captained a boat in the first Whitbread Round the World Race in 1973 and when he was 8 years old Ainslie took an initial interest in sailing after being given a small sailing dinghy by his parents. Such was his enthusiasm for the sport that he quickly progressed. At 12, he competed in the World Championships and at 18, won the gold at the World Youth Championships as well as became British Yachtsman of the Year.
An Olympic speaker whose competitive edge is simply unwavering, Ben is a person of interest for thousands of athletes seeking inspiration and motivation. The last time Ben went home with only a silver medal was in 1996 during his first taste of the Olympic Games. In the following years, he amassed nothing but the gold each time he competed in his sport.
In 2012, he became the first person sailor to consecutively win gold medals in four different Olympic Games – in Sydney 2000, Athens 2004, Beijing 2008 and London 2012. Ben has also won the International Sailing Federation Top Award more times than anyone else, being named ISAF World Sailor of the Year in 1998, 2002, 2008 and 2012. His enduring fondness coupled with commitment for the sport has made him a world-class sailor. As speaker, he talks about how physicality, skill, strategy and technique are equally important.
His autobiography titled ‘Close to the Wind’, covers most of his career including detailed stories of great races. He continues to train intensively despite having already reached the peaks of excellence and looks forward to his next conquest. For someone who once said that his greatest strength is never giving up, Ben indeed inspires and motivates as an Olympic speaker.
“A truly great speaker, Ben has the unique ability to inspire confidence, courage, and hope in people and learn about goal-setting, leadership, focus, self-motivation and commitment.”
A truly great and highly experienced speaker, Ben Ainslie shows audiences exactly what it takes to become an Olympic Champion.
"Thank you for transforming our event and making it dynamic."