Benchmark Talent Signs GB Hockey Duo
Benchmark Talent has announced that it will represent the personal commercial, speaking and media commitments of Olympic hockey gold medallists Kate Richardson-Walsh and Helen Richardson-Walsh.
The GB women’s team provided one of the stand out moments of the summer as they battled against Holland in the final, and have been widely lauded for the commitment, determination and team ethos that drove them on to victory. In winning gold Kate and Helen also made history in other ways, becoming the first same-sex married couple to win an Olympic medal playing in the same team.
Having started their international careers in 1999 both Helen and Kate have gone on to compete at four Olympic Games, taking bronze at London 2012. The have also amassed six Commonwealth medals between them, and became European Champions with England in 2015 before finally going on to clinch gold in Rio this year.
Kate Richardson-Walsh, the most capped female player in her country’s history, has captained the team since 2003 and was selected to be Team GB’s flag bearer at the closing ceremony in Rio. Her emphasis on the development of a team spirit and the creation of winning values and behaviors have made a huge contribution to recent success, helping the team rise from an 11th place low at the World Cup in 2014, to become world beaters in 2016.
Since becoming the youngest British woman to represent GB in hockey at an Olympics in 2000, Helen has also played an equally vital role in the growing strength of the women’s game in the UK. Over an international career of 17 years, she was shortlisted for the World Player of the Year Award in 2010, and named in the FIH World All Stars Team three times. This all despite having to battle back mentally and physically from three rounds of back and ankle surgery.
Kate and Helen married in 2013, adopting a double-barrelled name in the process, in a ceremony attended and celebrated by the rest of their team.
Having retired from international hockey following their Rio success, both are now set to join the Dutch club side Bloemendaal. Alongside this, Helen is completing a degree in psychology, and both are determined to turn their experience towards coaching, encouraging the grassroots development of the game and applying the leadership and performance lessons of a career in elite sport.
Kate said: “We’re delighted to be working with Benchmark Talent at what is an incredibly exciting time. We have both been playing hockey at an elite level for 17 years and our achievements in Rio were the culmination of all our hard work. Having now retired from the international game we want to direct our energy towards inspiring a new generation of players to take up hockey, encouraging women to think big in terms of ambition and leadership, and also to live our lives as a proud example of diversity in the modern world.”
Helen commented: “Our experiences have taught us so much about team work and building a winning mentality, and with Benchmark Talent’s help we are looking forward to developing that in new and exciting directions.”
Lisa Norman, executive director of Benchmark Talent, added: “We’re really excited to be working with Kate and Helen to help shape their careers and develop commercial opportunities. As with our other clients they have not only excelled in the sporting arena, but also stand out as leaders, driven by strong values and a desire to make a difference. We have a wonderful opportunity to channel their passion for diversity, inclusion and grassroots sports and to work with like-minded brands and organisations that share their belief in sport’s ability to drive social change.”
Kate and Helen join the likes of Olympic sprinting legend Michael Johnson, Paralympic great Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, Rugby World Cup winner Will Greenwood, and WBA Featherweight World Champion Carl Frampton on the roster at Benchmark Talent.
For commercial enquiries or speaking engagements, contact Lisa Norman on Lisa@benchmarksport.com
