Kiko Matthews

In 2018, Kiko became the fastest woman to solo row across the Atlantic. Setting off from Gran Canaria to Barbados, she embarked on this incredible journey having never been to sea before and just six months after undergoing surgery to remove a pituitary tumor. Forty-nine days later, she arrived in Barbados, breaking the previous record by seven days and raising £100,000 for King’s College Hospital, the institution that had saved her life eight years earlier from the same tumor-causing disease, Cushing’s.

Her campaign was uniquely funded by women and girls, aiming to inspire other females to believe that anything is possible when they work together, support one another, and embrace the power of belief.

Kiko continues to pursue her passions for education, purpose, charity, and adventure. She has completed a 5-day desert ultramarathon in Jordan, cycled 7,000 km around the UK’s coastline while conducting community beach cleanups, and most recently climbed the UK’s three peaks with her 3½-year-old child on her back— in support of Women’s Aid.

She shares her incredible stories of adventure and challenges, offering insights into how to build resilience through adversity. With firsthand experience in overcoming difficult situations, Kiko teaches resilience tools that have helped her thrive, enabling others to cultivate stronger mental health, greater resilience, and lasting happiness.