Kate Richardson Walsh

Kate Richardson-Walsh is one of Britain’s greatest ever female hockey players having captained GB for 13 years. Making her international debut in 1999, Richardson-Walsh’s international career spanned over 17 years with more than 370 appearances for her county. In 2016, she became the most capped female player in her country’s history, surpassing Karen Brown’s 355 mark in a series with Australia. Alongside her GB honors, Richardson-Walsh captained England since 2003 where she won the European Championships in 2015 and secured a bronze and two silvers in three successive Commonwealth Games.

After winning bronze in the London 2012 Olympics, Richardson-Walsh’s greatest achievement as a player came during the 2016 Rio Olympics where she was instrumental in leading GB to their first ever women’s hockey gold medal. A moment that the British public shall never forget. In winning gold Richardson-Walsh also made history in becoming one half of the first same-sex married couple to win an Olympic medal playing in the same team.

Some of Richardson-Walsh’s individual honors include being shortlisted for the FIH World Player of the Year, winning Team GB Hockey’s Athlete of the Year, twice winning the prestigious Hockey Writers’ Player of the Year. Richardson-Walsh was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2015 New Year Honors for services to hockey and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2017 New Year Honors, also for services to hockey. Richardson-Walsh was also nominated for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in December 2016.

In 2013 Richardson-Walsh married Helen Richardson, her team mate since 1999, adopting a double-barreled name in the process. Having retired from international hockey, Kate is now an assistant coach for the Canadian Women’s Field Hockey team.

After having such a long career, going through the ups and downs of international hockey and the vast pressures of performing at Major Championships, Richardson-Walsh has turned towards using such experiences in coaching, motivational speaking and in ambassadorial roles. Richardson-Walsh frequently visits schools and clubs to encourage grassroots development of the game, whether that be through coaching or speaking at events. Richardson-Walsh also regularly presents at corporate events to provide businesses with valuable insight in the world of elite sport, helping them to develop leadership and communication in the workplace.

She currently serves as an ambassador for the Women’s Sport Trust, strongly supports disability hockey as an ambassador for Access Sport, and sits on the British and European Olympic Athlete’s Commissions. Richardson-Walsh also indulges in a few of her other passions, including travel, fashion, cooking and a mild obsession with Manchester United.