The Anna Hopkin MBE Story | EP 166 Artwork

The Sam Oldham Podcast

At seven years old I walked into a gymnastics club for the very first time. I was hooked. For the next twenty one years, I dedicated my life to becoming an Olympic champion. I'm going to share with you the life lessons, experiences and stories that have shaped the man I am today. I'm now starting a new chapter in my life beyond my sporting career and look forward to bringing you along with me.

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The Sam Oldham Podcast

The Anna Hopkin MBE Story | EP 166

May 18, 2026 • Sam Oldham • Season 1 • Episode 166

0:00 | 1:36:27

At the 2020 Summer Olympics, which were ultimately held in 2021 due to the global pandemic, Anna Hopkin swam the anchor leg for Team GB’s 4 x 100m mixed medley relay team alongside Kathleen Dawson, Adam Peaty and James Guy. Together, they won Olympic gold for Great Britain while breaking the world record in the process.

Across her professional swimming career, Anna won a total of seventeen major championship medals. Following her Olympic success, she was awarded an MBE in the 2022 New Year Honours List for services to swimming.

In 2024, Anna qualified for her second Olympic Games, representing Team GB in 2024 Summer Olympics, before shortly afterwards announcing her retirement from professional swimming.

Anna’s journey to the Olympic Games was far from conventional. As a teenager, she stepped away from the sport after falling out of love with swimming. Yet through resilience, determination and rediscovering her passion, she returned to reach the very pinnacle of her sport.

And this is her story.