Ben Hunt-Davis

Biography

Ben Hunt-Davis spent nine years as a member of the Great Britain rowing team, competing at six World Championships and three Olympics. His sporting career culminated in gold in the coxed eights in Sydney - the first British winners for almost a century - and the start of an unprecedented run of success.

As well as his time with the British team Ben also spent six years coaching Oxford University women’s rowing crews. He now uses his working knowledge of teams to inspire and instruct others to achieve their objectives. In presentations he invites delegates to draws parallels between the focus, communication and peak performance needed in elite sport and the part they play in business.

Ben tells the story of how, after a decade in the national team, he eventually won an Olympic gold medal. As well as lessons in resilience and determination, he also looks at the strategies they used to beat the competition. In a time before the phrase marginal gains became commonplace, he analyses how each training sessions began with the team asking themselves the question: “Will it make the boat go faster?” By considering every aspect of what they did, as individuals and as a team, he encourages audiences to apply the same question to their own goals.

Since leaving rowing Ben has compiled his experiences in the best-selling book Will It Make The Boat Go Faster?, which he co-wrote with coaching expert Harriet Beveridge. The book looks at the challenges and achievements of beating the best in the world and provides strategies for personal and group development.