Tales of Triumph: Insights from elite athletes

In celebration of International Women’s Day, the University is hosting a free public talk open to anyone interested in hearing three exceptional former elite athletes talk about achieving international success, and how upon retirement they have continued this success in their subsequent pursuits.  

The first speaker is Danielle Brown (MBE) honorary fellow of the University of Wolverhampton. Danielle is three times world champion in archery, twelve times world record holder, double paralympic gold medallist, and one of few athletes to compete internationally among non-disabled athletes. She has gone on to become an award-winning book author.

The second speaker is Kerys Harrop, a lecturer in football coaching at the University. Kerys represented England for the Under 19 and Under 23 squads and was part of the Under 19 squad that won the European Championships in 2009. She helped Birmingham City Ladies win the FA Cup in 2012, and in April 2023 whilst playing for Tottenham Hotspur broke the Women's Super League's all-time record for appearances. She is now a pundit on the men's and women's professional game.

Finally, Maggie Alphonsi (MBE) will contribute to discussions via a pre-recorded video. Maggie represented England 74 times in Rugby Union, scored 28 tries, won a World Cup, and helped England win a record-breaking seven consecutive Six Nations crowns. Since retirement she has become a household name as a media professional, commentating on live international men's and women's rugby matches, also featuring in a diverse range of media productions, from BBC’s Children in Need and The One Show.

The talk will take place on Friday 8 March from 6pm until 7.30pm in the Millenium City building (MC001). Reserve your free space.