What does it mean to compete at the highest level without losing your humanity? In this gripping episode of Uspire Unlocked, Amanda welcomes Greg Cackett, former pub chef, elite sprinter, three-time Olympian, and Team GB bobsleigh brakeman whose remarkable journey from the village pub to the Olympic ice is a masterclass in resilience, self-belief, and what he calls compassionate competition.

Scouted at 21 with no athletics background, Greg rapidly went from an 11.5-second 100m time to racing Usain Bolt at the Diamond League all while being coached by Margot Wells and Linford Christie. After injury redirected his path, he fell in love with bobsleigh and spent the next decade competing at the very top of the sport, reaching three Olympic Games and winning medals at European and World Championship level.

Greg shares the raw emotional reality of “near miss grief,” how imposter syndrome showed up even at the Olympic Games, and why compassion, not just kindness, is the bedrock of exceptional leadership and team performance. A must-listen for anyone navigating high-pressure environments.

Here are the highlights:

00:00 Intro: Meet Greg Cackett, pub chef turned three-time Olympian 01:30 Scouted at 21: from the village pub to the athletics track

02:20 Coached by Margot Wells and Linford Christie

03:50 Racing Usain Bolt at the Diamond League Anniversary Games

07:00 Injury, setbacks, and the decision to switch to bobsleigh

08:30 Why sprinters transfer so well to bobsleigh and what the sport really demands

15:00 Imposter syndrome at the Olympic start line and how Greg managed it

16:30 Three Olympics: Pyeongchang, Beijing, and Milan Cortina

23:00 The concept of “Near Miss Grief” and how it applies to business leaders

34:00 What is compassionate competition and why does it matter?

40:00 Paul Gilbert’s work on compassion and why Greg finds it life-changing

44:00 Advice for leaders: how to build real resilience in teams

49:00 Pride, values, and the importance of compassionate bedrock in leadership

​About The Uspire Partnership:

The Uspire Partnership: Building the future of business

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About Greg Cackett:

A former pub chef, Greg was talent scouted at an athletics track and began sprinting at 21. After a meteoric rise: signing with Puma, racing Usain Bolt, an injury stalled his progress and he plotted an escape route to bobsleigh. Many medals, British Records and 3 Olympics later, he never looked back.

Greg speaks regularly in schools and corporate environments. His subjects range from “Compassionate Competition in leadership” and “high performance” to “resilience, perseverance and finding worth beyond performance.”

As his own retirement looms, Greg is looking for a new home in the creative space. As a lifelong writer, he hopes to pivot into Film and TV, books, comedy and beyond.