Backley Black

Steve Backley and Roger Black are two of Britain’s most celebrated Olympians and the founding partners of Backley Black Ltd. Combining decades of experience at the pinnacle of elite sport with expertise in business performance, they deliver inspiring high-performance keynote presentations for corporate conferences, leadership events and sales meetings. Drawing on their remarkable sporting achievements and their work with organisations across multiple sectors, they equip audiences with practical strategies for sustaining excellence, leading through pressure and building resilient, high-performing teams.

Steve’s sporting journey began alongside his education, where his exceptional talent for the javelin quickly emerged. He developed into one of Britain’s most successful field athletes, winning four European titles, three Commonwealth Games gold medals, two Universiade gold medals, two Olympic silver medals, two World Championship silver medals, a Commonwealth Games silver and an Olympic bronze. His outstanding contribution to athletics was recognised with an MBE before later receiving an OBE, while his induction into the London Youth Games Hall of Fame further reflected his lasting impact. His experiences overcoming injury, maintaining consistency and competing on the world’s biggest stages provide powerful lessons in resilience and sustained performance.

Roger established himself as one of Britain’s finest 400 metre runners, becoming a two-time World Champion in the 4 x 400 metre relay, five time European Champion, two time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, double Olympic silver medallist and Olympic bronze medallist. Alongside publishing ‘Roger Black: How Long’s the Course?’, he received an Honorary Degree from Southampton University and was appointed an MBE for Services to Athletics. His career demonstrates the importance of preparation, teamwork and performing under relentless pressure.

Together, Steve and Roger combine world class sporting success with extensive business experience, making them highly sought after high performance speakers for organisations looking to inspire lasting success. Their keynotes blend memorable personal stories with practical performance principles, offering valuable insights into leadership, resilience, teamwork, communication and achieving consistent results. Whether speaking at leadership conferences, corporate events, sales meetings or business forums, Steve and Roger equip audiences with the mindset and strategies needed to embrace change, unlock potential and create high-performing cultures where individuals and teams can thrive.