Marc Woods
Paralympian Gold Medallist & Inspirational Speaker
Marc Woods is a Paralympian gold medallist swimmer and an established and respected motivational speaker on leadership, teamwork, and communication.
During his 17 years of competition, he won a staggering 12 Paralympic medals from 5 Games, 4 of those medals being gold. Marc also won a further 21 medals from European and World Championships.
Marc was diagnosed with cancer at 17 and consequently had his left leg amputated below the knee. Not knowing how long he had left to live, he was determined to make the most of whatever time he did have.
Marc has gone out and done just that and became a member of Great Britain’s Paralympic Swimming Team, a multiple Gold Medallist, BBC commentator, and author. His distinctive, open style demonstrates his passion for life, translating into a moving and motivating experience for audiences.
His dream was to be the best that he could be and just 18 months after he finished his chemotherapy he was selected to represent Great Britain.
Now retired from international swimming Marc has embarked on a series of new challenges. Having already trekked in Nepal, Ecuador, and Peru (the Inca Trail) he has begun to develop his mountaineering skills. To date he has climbed the world’s highest volcano, Cotopaxi in Ecuador; Mont Pelvoux part of the Massif des Ecrins in France and 22,200ft Mera Peak in Nepal.
Marc Woods was also an ambassador for the London 2012 Olympics and a Trustee of Teenage Cancer Trust.
SPEAKING TOPICS
Path to Gold – is Marc’s keynote speech he has presented to companies all over the world. He works closely with his clients to ensure the emphasis of his speech complements the issues that are currently being faced in the workplace.
There are numerous learning points within the presentation including insights into:
• Motivation
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Communication skills
The presentation follows him on his journey from ‘taking personal responsibility’ to ‘working within a small team’ through to ‘enthusing the broader support team.’
"Thank you for taking the time to come and speak to us at our divisional meeting, we thoroughly enjoyed your talk and found it truly inspirational."
— Carol Walsh - Executive Vice President Regional General Counsel, Visa International
"His talk was enlightening but also entertaining, and he certainly kept the audience sitting on the edge of their seats! His messages about teamwork, communication and being supportive were aptly illustrated, and the importance of dedication and hard work were obvious by his achievements."
— Midge Story - Manager of the Zurich Advice Foundation, Zurich Advice Network
“Everyone was absolutely delighted, Marc was fantastic.”
— Alexander Forbes Financial Services
“Exceptionally good. He included the whole audience and was a big success.”
— Volvo
