A physical activity expert and world-renowned sports scientist, Professor Greg Whyte OBE is an Olympian in modern
pentathlon and a European and World Championship medalist. Well-known for his involvement in Comic Relief,
assisting various celebrities in challenge events, Greg supported Jo Brand on her ‘Hell of a Walk’ from Hull to
Liverpool and Radio 1’s Greg James on his 5 triathlons in 5 cities in 5 days. As a result of his work, Greg has helped
to raise over £60 million for charity.
Greg is an expert in the field of sports and exercise science. Graduating from Brunel University, he furthered his studies with an MSc in human performance in the USA and completed his PhD at St. Georges Hospital Medical School, London. Greg is currently a Professor of Applied Sport and Exercise Science at Liverpool John Moores University and Director of Research for the British Olympic Association and Director of Science and Research for the English Institue of Sport.
Greg is the preeminent authority on Exercise Physiology and Sports and Exercise Performance in the UK. An
internationally recognised expert in the field, Greg has extensive professional experience assessing, treating and
improving the performance of patients, sporting enthusiasts and athletes ranging from cancer sufferers to celebrities
attempting their first mountain summit to Gold medal seeking Olympians.
Since 2006, Greg has applied his sports science work to assist various celebrities in completing some of the
toughest challenges. Greg has trained, motivated and successfully coached 33 Sport and Comic Relief Challenges
including: the comedian David Walliams to swim across the English Channel the Gibraltar Straits and the length of
the Thames; James Cracknell to run, cycle and swim to Africa; a team of 9 celebrities including Cheryl Cole, Chris
Moyles and Gary Barlow to climb Mt. Kilimanjaro; Eddie Izzard to run a remarkable 43 marathons in 50 days;
Christine Bleakley to waterski across the English Channel; Dermot O’Leary, Olly Murrs and others to cross the driest
desert in Africa; John Bishop to complete ‘Bishops Week of Hell’ that involved John cycle, row and run from Paris to
London; and Davina McCall in her ‘Beyond Breaking Point’ 506 mile ultra-triathlon.
In 2014 Greg was awarded an OBE for his services to Sport, Sport Science & Charity, and was voted as one of the
Top 10 Science Communicators in the UK by the British Science Council. Greg’s more recently won the UK Active
Awards Personality of the Year for 2019.
Sporting Achievements:
– WhyteWater – Upper Thames 125 mile Record Swim (2022)
– The Norseman (2019)
– #50at50 Swim Challenge
– Marathon Des Sables (2015)
– Ironman Bolton (2013)
– British Championships Triathlon (1997 – 2004)
– The Channel Swim (2010)
– Ride Across America (2008)
– London Marathon (1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2004)
– Olympic Games (Atlanta 1996)
– World Championships SILVER (Sheffield 1994)
– Olympic Games (Barcelona 1992)
– European Championships BRONZE (Rome 1991)