Jeanette Kwakye
Live Presenter, Motivational Speaker & Former Athlete
MBE
Five-Time British Athletics Champion
2008 100m Beijing Olympic Finalist
First black female UK TV presenter for boxing on terrestrial TV
BBC and Channel 5 Broadcaster
Co-Presenter of football podcast Wrighty’s House
Corporate event host for Google, Nike, Twitter
Author and publisher of children’s book, Femi the Fox
Jeanette MBE and broadcaster for the likes of BBC, has the unique position of being a former elite athlete. As a five-time British Champion, her biggest achievement was competing in the 2008 100m Olympic final in Beijing. She was the first British woman to do so in 24 years, and the only one, man or woman, to do it since.
Jeanette graduated from Loughborough University with a degree in Politics and Economics.
Since becoming a journalist in 2013, the last nine years have worked hard to become a regular broadcaster for the BBC and Channel 5. Jeanette has anchored World Athletic Championships, World Swimming Championships, Taekwondo World Championships, the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Jeanette regularly presents the BBC’s Women’s Football Show, BBC 5 Live breakfast and co-presents on Wright’s House podcast alongside Ian Wright.
Jeanette retired from athletics, after years of suffering from an unfortunate injury that stopped her from competing in the London Olympics. After retiring, Jeanette returned to university where she recieved an NCTJ qualification.
In 2017, Jeanette decided to write and publish a children’s book called Femi the Fox, which teaches the younger generations about West African culture.
In 2020, Jeanette became the first black female UK TV presenter ever to host a boxing production on one of the country’s five main channels and she continues to present boxing events on Channel 5 to this day. She was awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List in 2021 for services to Sport and Sports Broadcasting.
An experienced host and speaker, Jeanette has worked with brands ranging from Google, Nike, Twitter and BMW. She also works closely with the IOC and IAAF as a moderator.
Jeanette has worked with the Youth Sport Trust since 2010, working to educate young people in schools, around the country, in the benefits of sport.
VIDEO