Olympic Medallist, Broke the World Javelin Record Twice, Co-Founder of BackleyBlack with Olympic Medallist Roger Black & Named IAAF World Athlete of the Year Twice
Steve Backley OBE’s Biography:
Steve Backley OBE is one of Britain’s greatest ever field athletes and one of the most successful javelin throwers in history. Renowned for breaking the javelin world record and for his remarkable consistency on the international stage, Steve won Olympic, World, European and Commonwealth medals across a career spanning more than fifteen years. His ability to overcome setbacks, sustain elite performance and continually compete at the very highest level has made him an authority on resilience, leadership and achieving excellence. Today, he is a highly sought-after keynote speaker, sharing the mindset, discipline, and high-performance principles that enabled him to remain at the top of world athletics for so long.
Steve established himself as a leading talent in British athletics before rising to international prominence when he set his first official javelin world record. He went on to break the world record twice more, culminating in a throw of 91.46 metres, and was named IAAF World Athlete of the Year after twice breaking the record in a single season. Throughout his career, he secured four consecutive European Athletics Championships gold medals, three Commonwealth Games gold medals, three Olympic medals and two World Athletics Championships silver medals. After competing in four consecutive Olympic Games, including a fourth-place finish at Athens before retiring, Steve was recognised with both an MBE and later promotion to OBE for his outstanding services to athletics.
Away from competition, Steve has continued to inspire audiences through his work as a performance expert. In 2008, he co-founded the performance consultancy BackleyBlack alongside fellow Olympic medallist Roger Black, helping organisations develop high-performing teams and resilient leaders. His expertise has seen him deliver keynote presentations and corporate performance programmes for businesses across a wide range of sectors, including hosting a high-profile corporate performance masterclass at the National Exhibition Centre. Drawing on first-hand experience of performing under pressure, Steve delivers practical strategies on leadership, motivation, teamwork, resilience and sustaining excellence.
Why Hire Steve Backley OBE?
Steve’s combination of world-class sporting achievement and extensive business experience makes him an exceptional keynote speaker for organisations seeking lasting performance improvement. His presentations blend compelling stories from elite sport with practical lessons that audiences can immediately apply in the workplace. Whether speaking to senior executives, leadership teams or conference audiences, Steve demonstrates how embracing challenge, maintaining focus and developing a winning mindset can unlock sustained success. His engaging delivery, credibility and proven expertise ensure audiences leave inspired, motivated and equipped with practical tools to perform at their very best.
Steve Backley OBE’s Career Highlights:
Here are some of the key milestones that define Steve Backley OBE’s remarkable career:
- 2026 – Hosted a corporate performance masterclass at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC)
- 2008 – Co-founded performance consultancy BackleyBlack with Roger Black
- 2004 – Competed at a fourth consecutive Olympic Games before retiring
- 2003 – Promoted to OBE for services to athletics
- 2002 – Won European Championships gold and Commonwealth Games gold
- 2000 – Won Olympic silver at the Sydney Games
- 1998 – Won European Championships gold
- 1997 – Won World Championships silver
- 1996 – Won Olympic silver at the Atlanta Games
- 1995 – Won World Championships silver
- 1994 – Won European Championships gold and Commonwealth Games gold
- 1992 – Won Olympic bronze, broke the javelin world record for the third time and was appointed MBE
- 1990 – Named IAAF World Athlete of the Year, broke the world record twice, and won European Championships and Commonwealth Games gold
- 1989 – Set his first official javelin world record
Videos
Steve Backley OBE’s Official Keynote Speaking Videos & Showreel:
Testimonials
“Steve is an outstanding keynote speaker who combines the lessons of an exceptional sporting career with practical strategies for leadership, resilience and high performance. Drawing on his experience of competing at the highest level, he inspires audiences with engaging stories and actionable insights that help individuals and organisations perform under pressure and achieve sustained success.” – David Simms
Speaking Topics
Steve Backley OBE’s Official Keynote Topics:
- Olympics
- Medallist
- High Performance
- Leadership
- Resilience
- Teamwork
How Much Does Steve Backley OBE Cost to Hire?
How Much Does it Cost to Hire Steve Backley OBE?
Steve Backley OBE’s speaking fees typically reflect their exceptional career and international demand. Engagements vary depending on location, format, and duration; keynote appearances, conferences, and international events may command higher fees due to travel and preparation requirements.
