Zac Purchase MBE is a double Olympic medallist and three-time World Champion rower who now dedicates his time to inspiring others to unlock their full potential – both physically and mentally.
Over a ten-year international rowing career, Zac competed at the very highest level, winning Olympic gold in Beijing 2008 and silver in London 2012, alongside three World Championship titles. His success didn’t come easily, and Zac’s journey is one of perseverance, discipline, and resilience – developed through working with some of the most respected professionals in elite sport, from strength & conditioning coaches to sports psychologists.
Since retiring from international competition, Zac has channelled his passion for performance and wellbeing into motivational speaking. His talks are engaging and relatable, full of personal stories from the highs and lows of his sporting career. Whether he’s delivering a keynote at a conference or running team-building sessions, Zac brings a unique blend of humour, insight and energy.
Zac also works closely with a number of charities including StreetGames, SportsAid, and the Midlands Air Ambulance, and is a qualified personal trainer. He’s passionate about promoting a healthy, balanced lifestyle and believes exercise should be fun, accessible, and sustainable – no matter how busy life gets.
If you’re looking for an inspiring speaker who can connect with audiences of all ages and backgrounds – and show them what it really takes to be the best version of themselves – Zac is a fantastic choice.
Behind every athlete’s success is the importance of looking after their mind as well as their body. In this honest and supportive talk, our athletes open up about how they manage pressure, deal with setbacks, and stay mentally healthy. Pupils will hear positive, practical advice on looking after their own wellbeing, coping with stress, and the importance of speaking up and supporting each other.
Having a growth mindset means believing you can improve through effort, learning, and perseverance. In this talk, our athletes explain how this way of thinking has helped them deal with setbacks, learn from mistakes, and keep improving, no matter the odds. Pupils will be encouraged to embrace challenges, stay positive, and understand that hard work and resilience lead to progress in sport and in life.
Zac was a great role model for the young people of Bedfordshire with his inspiring story during the opening ceremony and through the time he spent talking to the young people during the day answering all their questions.
It was a fantastic experience to have an Olympic athlete like Zac come to the Kent School Games. Zac has an amazing personality that the young people really respond well to. He was easily approachable and always had a smile on his face. Zac had time for anyone that wanted to chat or have a photo with him and this could be seen by the amount of young people that interacted with him wanting selfies or just to have a chat. The young people were really inspired by the visit and would recommended Zac to anyone looking for a sporting champion as he surpassed our expectations.
Inspirational Athletes connects schools & communities with elite athletes who inspire, motivate and engage young people through talks, workshops and sports sessions.
Address:
Stratford-Upon-Avon, CV37 1RD
Phone:
020 7993 2724
Inspirational Speakers has been providing high profile keynote speakers and entertainers for over 25 years.
