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Former Olympic swimmer, media host, author & actor

Lisa Forrest is an Olympic swimming champion, successful author, media host and actor. An accomplished speaker, her presentations are irresistibly packaged with energy, enthusiasm and inspirational stories.

About Lisa Forrest:

Lisa Forrest was just fourteen when she burst onto the international swimming scene in 1978.  She won the hearts of the Australian public when, with a 10,000 watt smile and a ton of personality, she participated in numerous international competitions. At just 16, Lisa Forrest captained the Australian swimming team at the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

However against the background of the Moscow Olympic political storms, and with the expectations of her country on her, Lisa slipped at the start of her 200m backstroke final. The impact of her experiences led Lisa to look at what her swimming career was doing to the mind and body of a growing person. 

In her search for balance between the glory and hype of external success and true inner fulfillment, Lisa learnt two valuable lessons:  the first, to follow your heart and instincts; the second, that you don't always win.

She finally determined that an environment where "winning was the only thing" was not the real world and retired from swimming at 19, winning two gold medals at the 1982 Brisbane Commonwealth Games.

Lisa moved on to become one of Australia's most popular media figures.  In 1986 she was the first woman to front a national TV sports show, and since then has appeared on the Midday Show, the ABC TV health programme Everybody, The Fat and Beauty and the Beast. She has commentated at various Olympic and Commonwealth Games and presented a nightly show on ABC Radio, Sydney. In addition she was a presenter/interviewer for Qantas' in-flight audio program A Current of Air. Lisa studied acting in New York, appeared in the Network 10 drama series Medivac, and starred in the David Williamson play Travelling North.

In 2000 Lisa Forrest released her first novel, Making The Most Of It which dealt with the problem of sporting celebrity, failure and self-esteem, friendships and relationships, eating disorders and drugs in sport.  The book was added to the NSW Board of Studies recommended reading list for Years 7-10. In 2002, she published djmAx, and in 2004, Meg Banana.  In 2008, Lisa published Boycott, the story behind Australia's controversial involvement in the 1980 Moscow Olympics.

Lisa Forrest is many things to many people: actor, author, emcee, TV and radio presenter, interviewer, mother, Olympian. She is an accomplished speaker with a story that is not easy to categorise. While on the surface a sports story, it would be a mistake to think it has limited appeal. Chasing her own dreams in the face of enormous public expectation, drawing insight and wisdom from the best and the worst personal experiences, she has become that thing so rare to find in these homogenised times - a true individual.

Lisa Forrest speaks about:

Lisa's inspirational presentations centre around the realities of winning and losing. She discusses the strength that comes from our human vulnerability and how we can turn not-so-positive experiences into valuable lessons.

Client testimonials

Many of the boys who heard Lisa speak have commented very favourably on the 'life skills' aspect of her presentation, as have mothers, telling me about their sons' reactions. Sometimes we forget that the boys need to be able to talk about their emotional lives and hear from an outsider that it is OK to have feelings. I especially thank her for that.

Newington College

ABN AMRO employees have been fortunate enough to listen to some very high calibre speakers over the last couple of years, but there is no doubt that Lisa was the most inspiring of them all. Her story, her delightful manner, her humour...what a wonderful combination. I have long been a fan, but am even more so now!

ABN AMRO

Her engagement with the audience was brilliant: she was insightful, funny, inspiring. She had the audience absolutely silent, occasionally in tears one minute, and rolling around with laughter the next.

The Children’s Book Council of Australia