Mehdi Kordi

Mehdi Kordi is a multiple Olympic gold medal winning coach and performance expert who has helped build some of the most successful teams in international cycling. Formerly Head Sprint Coach for the Dutch Cycling Federation and Head of Performance Support and Innovation at INEOS Grenadiers, Mehdi combines elite coaching with expertise in sports science, data and innovation. Across the Tokyo and Paris Olympic cycles, riders under his coaching won six Olympic gold medals alongside multiple world titles and world records. He is hired as an inspirational leadership speaker for his insights into high performance cultures, continuous improvement, innovation and enabling talented individuals to succeed collectively.

Mehdi began his career in research, working at University College London and the European Astronaut Centre before becoming a Physiologist and PhD Researcher with the English Institute of Sport in 2012. He subsequently moved into elite cycling, applying scientific principles directly to athlete development and performance. As Podium Sprint Coach for British Cycling’s para programme, he helped coach GB para sprint tandem riders to four world titles and four world records. Mehdi later joined the Dutch Cycling Federation as a coach and scientist before progressing through endurance and sprint coaching positions, eventually becoming Head Sprint Coach in 2022.

Mehdi’s coaching contributed to an extraordinary period of success for Dutch cycling. At the Tokyo Olympics, the Dutch track sprint programme secured three gold medals, alongside silver and bronze, while further World Championship success followed. In 2023, his squad claimed four World Championship gold medals before achieving another exceptional performance at Paris 2024, where his riders won three golds and one silver and the Netherlands topped the track cycling medal table for the first time. Mehdi subsequently joined INEOS Grenadiers as Head of Performance Support and Innovation, applying his experience to one of professional cycling’s leading teams and exploring how technology, evidence and collaboration can unlock marginal performance improvements.

Mehdi is hired as a speaker because he understands what separates talented teams from consistently successful ones. Drawing on Olympic coaching, sports science and performance innovation, he explores leadership, team culture, decision making and using data effectively without losing sight of the people behind performance. He has spoken at events including the Association of Sporting Directors Global Conference and FUEL Manchester, while also sharing his expertise through The Telegraph and appearances on Leadership Actually and Oh No Another Podcast in 2026. Mehdi gives leaders practical lessons for creating environments where people learn, innovate and consistently perform under pressure.