Sam Quek hits back at critics over role on ITV Grand National team

Sam Quek hits back at critics over role on ITV Grand National team Newspoint | 29/03/2025 01:39:17

British Olympic gold medallist Sam Quek has answered back to critics who posted negative comments to news she would be part of the Racing team at the Grand National meeting.

Quek, 36, has successfully transitioned from being a member of the winning GB women's hockey team at the 2016 London Games to a career in television. She worked as a presenter at the Tokyo Olympics, has covered football, and rugby union and appeared on reality shows including and I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.

Quek, from Liverpool, is also an enthusiastic fan who has owned horses that have run at the and the 1,000 Guineas.

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But reaction to her addition to the ITV Racing stable next week included comments on X such as “Grand National ruined”, “What knowledge or expertise does she bring to it?”

Quek addressed the response in an interview with describing it as “a bit like hysteria."

"In every sport I've worked in over the last ten years, the reception I've been given has always felt quite welcoming, so I was surprised by the reaction I got when it was announced I was joining the ITV Racing team for Aintree.

"I was actually disappointed. My experience of racing to that point had always been so positive, welcoming and inclusive. After the reaction to the ITV announcement, it feels like that has been flipped on its head."

She continued: "I started getting tagged on social media and things began to build up. People were asking, 'Why is a hockey player doing racing? What does she know about horses?'.

“Later in the day I saw someone joking that if I had gone and negotiated a peace deal between and , some people would still have said, 'But why was she there?'. I've even had people saying I'm not from Liverpool just because I now live on the Wirral.

"I'm not there to replace AP McCoy, Ruby Walsh or Alice Plunkett. I'm there to do the crossover work and, to be honest, I think I'm perfect for that. I want to get across my passion for racing to people who might be watching the biggest race in the for the first time.

"I'm really excited about the role and I think I can do a great job blending broadcasting and a sport I love. That's why none of the criticism triggered me too much. The opinions that matter to me are the ones that come from the people who matter."

"Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and I don't expect everyone to like me, just as I don't like everyone, but I wouldn't feel the need to have a personal vendetta against someone, whereas I think some people do.

“They do it for a reaction and a fight. I just dismiss it, so it doesn't bother me, but it's unacceptable and I shouldn't have to be big enough to take it."