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Laurence Halsted is a two-time Olympian for the British Fencing team, competing in Rio and his hometown, London. He was a member of the senior British team for over 10 years and has won a silver and bronze European Championships medal as well as a career best 6th place in the World Championships. During Laurence’s time at the top-tier of international competition he experience British Fencing go from an amateur to a fully-professionalised organisation and helped the British team qualify for an Olympics for the first time in the modern era.
Immediately after retiring from his own athletic career, Laurence became the Performance Director of the Danish Fencing federation, where he was tasked with achieving the same transition to world class status as he achieved in Britain. He was in this role for five years up until the end of 2021, when he moved across to his current role at TAP.
In the run-up to the Rio Olympics Laurence became engaged in the debate around the overall ethical status of the Games themselves.He penned articles in The Guardian and The Nation, outlining his concerns with how the Games are awarded and hosted and describing the responsibility of Olympic athletes to speak out on issues that they are passionate about. Laurence founded a group, Olympians’ Voice, to facilitate communication amongst British Olympians with an aim to spark conversation and potentially action on any of these passion issues.
It was these articles that caught TAP CEO, Sam’s attention and persuaded him to reach out to Laurence and draw him into the TAP mission.
Laurence has deep personal experience with the power of sport psychology and mindfulness training, has been a mentor himself and has trained as an outdoor leadership guide in Canada. These specialised experiences together with his high level sporting background gave Laurence a clear vision of what a TAP mentoring program should include.
Overall Laurence is a firm believer in the maxim that better people make better athletes, and that socially conscientious athletes can be a powerful force for good in the world.
Laurence Halsted is a two-time Olympian for the British Fencing team, competing in Rio and his hometown, London. He was a member of the senior British team for over 10 years and has won a silver and bronze European Championships medal as well as a career best 6th place in the World Championships. During Laurence’s time at the top-tier of international competition he experience British Fencing go from an amateur to a fully-professionalised organisation and helped the British team qualify for an Olympics for the first time in the modern era.
Immediately after retiring from his own athletic career, Laurence became the Performance Director of the Danish Fencing federation, where he was tasked with achieving the same transition to world class status as he achieved in Britain. He was in this role for five years up until the end of 2021, when he moved across to his current role at TAP.
In the run-up to the Rio Olympics Laurence became engaged in the debate around the overall ethical status of the Games themselves.He penned articles in The Guardian and The Nation, outlining his concerns with how the Games are awarded and hosted and describing the responsibility of Olympic athletes to speak out on issues that they are passionate about. Laurence founded a group, Olympians’ Voice, to facilitate communication amongst British Olympians with an aim to spark conversation and potentially action on any of these passion issues.
It was these articles that caught TAP CEO, Sam’s attention and persuaded him to reach out to Laurence and draw him into the TAP mission.
Laurence has deep personal experience with the power of sport psychology and mindfulness training, has been a mentor himself and has trained as an outdoor leadership guide in Canada. These specialised experiences together with his high level sporting background gave Laurence a clear vision of what a TAP mentoring program should include.
Overall Laurence is a firm believer in the maxim that better people make better athletes, and that socially conscientious athletes can be a powerful force for good in the world.
Career highlights:
Member of Great Britain Olympic Team, London 2012 and Rio 2016
6th World Championships 2015
Senior European Silver and Bronze Medallist 2009/10
15th in World Ranking
British Champion 2010
U20 European Champion
Follow Laurence on Twitter:
@LaurenceHalsted
Articles:
Olympic Athletes Must Exercise Their Right to Speak Beyond Their Sport
Outspoken British Olympian on Brexit, Rio and the Perils of Speaking Out
Mindfulness: A Practical Approach to Changing the Culture of Sport
Member of Great Britain Olympic Team, London 2012 and Rio 2016
6th World Championships 2015
Senior European Silver and Bronze Medallist 2009/10
15th in World Ranking
British Champion 2010
U20 European Champion
Follow Laurence on Twitter:
@LaurenceHalsted
Articles:
Olympic Athletes Must Exercise Their Right to Speak Beyond Their Sport
Outspoken British Olympian on Brexit, Rio and the Perils of Speaking Out
Mindfulness: A Practical Approach to Changing the Culture of Sport