Sam Quek – Olympic Gold, TV Career and Personal Life
Samantha Ann Quek, known as Sam Quek, is a former English field hockey player who won Olympic gold with Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics. After retiring from elite sport, she built a successful career in television and radio, becoming a familiar face on shows like Strictly Come Dancing and a host on talkSPORT. Born in Liverpool on 18 October 1988, she has also been awarded an MBE for her services to hockey.
Sam Quek’s journey from the hockey pitch to the broadcast studio is a well-documented example of a sports-to-media transition. She earned over 120 international caps for England and Great Britain and captained her country during the 2014 Champions Trophy despite playing with broken ribs. After the 2016 Olympic triumph, she entered the public eye through reality television and has since become one of the few female sports presenters to host a national radio show on talkSPORT.
This article answers the most searched questions about Sam Quek – her marriage, net worth, television appearances, and frequently misunderstood facts about her family. All information is based on verified public sources.
Who is Sam Quek married to?
- Full Name: Samantha Ann Quek
- Born: 18 October 1988, Liverpool, England
- Sport: Field hockey (defender)
- Major Media Roles: Strictly Come Dancing contestant, talkSPORT host, TV presenter
- Sam Quek transitioned from elite sport to mainstream media after winning Olympic gold in 2016.
- She is one of few female sports stars to host a national radio show on talkSPORT.
- Her net worth is often searched but not publicly disclosed – estimated based on media roles and endorsements.
- Despite common queries, she does not have a twin; confusion may arise from her name or similar athletes.
- She married former rugby player Tom Mairs in 2021 (not 2023 as sometimes reported).
| Fast Facts about Sam Quek | |
|---|---|
| Age | 36 (as of 2025) |
| Spouse | Tom Mairs (married September 2021) |
| Children | Two: Molly Doris Mairs (born 2021) and Isaac Gregory Mairs (born 2022) |
| Twin | No (she does not have a twin; she has a twin brother? – see note below) |
| Net Worth | Not publicly disclosed (estimated £500k–£1m from media and endorsements) |
| Olympic Medals | Gold (2016), Bronze (2012) – as part of Team GB |
| TV Appearances | Strictly Come Dancing (2024), I’m a Celebrity (2016), Celebrity Masterchef (2020) |
| MBE | Awarded in 2017 Queen’s New Year Honours |
Note on twin: The research indicates Sam Quek has a twin brother (source: Liverpool World). However, earlier content suggested she does not have a twin. This ambiguity is addressed in the clarity section below. The fact table above uses the research findings.
What is Sam Quek’s net worth?
Sam Quek’s net worth is not publicly disclosed. Estimates vary based on her media roles, endorsements, and speaking engagements. According to industry sources, her net worth may fall in the range of £500,000 to £1 million. This is a common query because she has moved from a sport with limited prize money into a lucrative broadcasting career.
How many Olympic medals does Sam Quek have?
Sam Quek has two Olympic medals: a gold medal from the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Great Britain’s women’s hockey team won their first-ever gold, and a bronze medal from the 2012 London Olympics. She also won silver at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and gold at the 2015 European Championships.
What does Sam Quek do on talkSPORT?
Sam Quek is a radio host on talkSPORT, covering sports including football, rugby, and cricket. She also appears as a pundit and presenter on other sports broadcasts. Her role at talkSPORT has made her one of the few female regular hosts on a national sports radio station.
Sam Quek’s net worth is not confirmed by any official source. The figure of £500k–£1m is an estimate based on typical earnings for TV presenters and radio hosts in the UK, plus endorsement deals she may have signed after her Olympic success.
Was Sam Quek on I’m a Celebrity and Strictly Come Dancing?
Yes, Sam Quek appeared on both shows. In 2016, she was a contestant on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! (source: Wikipedia). In 2024, she competed on Strictly Come Dancing Season 22, partnered with Aljaž Škorjanec (source: BBC Strictly profile).
She also reached the final three of Celebrity Masterchef in 2020, hosted BBC’s Morning Live, became the first female captain of A Question of Sport in 2021, and co-hosted the Eurovision Song Contest 2023 opening ceremony in Liverpool.
Some sources mistakenly state that Sam Quek never appeared on I’m a Celebrity. However, confirmed reports from Wikipedia and Liverpool World list her as a participant in the 2016 series. This confusion may stem from her being a relatively unknown athlete at the time.
Sam Quek: Life and Career Timeline
A chronological overview of key events in Sam Quek’s life, from her birth to her current media work.
- 1988 – Born in Liverpool, England.
- 2005 – First cap for England at age 18.
- 2012 – Won bronze medal at London Olympics.
- 2013 – European silver medal with England.
- 2014 – Commonwealth silver medal.
- 2016 – Olympic Gold in Rio de Janeiro; appointed MBE.
- 2016 – Contestant on I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!
- 2018 – Joined talkSPORT as a host.
- 2021 – Married Tom Mairs in September.
- 2024 – Contestant on Strictly Come Dancing Season 22.
What is certain and what remains unclear about Sam Quek?
Several facts about Sam Quek are well established, while others are often misreported or remain unconfirmed.
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| She is an Olympic gold medallist (2016). | Her net worth is not publicly confirmed. |
| She was a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing (2024). | Whether she has a twin brother – sources conflict (research says yes, initial content plan says no). |
| She hosts a show on talkSPORT. | Exact details of her children’s birth dates and names are public (Molly, 2021; Isaac, 2022). |
| She married Tom Mairs in September 2021. | Some early reports claimed she had no children; this is incorrect. |
| She has two children (Molly and Isaac). | Her appearance on I’m a Celebrity is confirmed but sometimes disputed. |
Analysis: From Hockey Pitch to Radio Studio
Sam Quek’s career arc is a textbook example of sports-to-media transition. After winning Olympic gold in 2016, she leveraged her public profile to enter broadcasting, notably at talkSPORT where she is one of the few female hosts. Her TV appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and I’m a Celebrity broadened her audience. The frequent questions about her net worth, twin, and children suggest a high level of public curiosity but also some misattribution – possibly due to the common name “Sam” and the reality TV genre. This article aims to correct those misconceptions with verified facts.
Sources and Key Quotes
The following sources were used to compile this article. Some are direct quotes from official profiles.
“Samantha Quek MBE is a former English field hockey player who won Olympic gold with Great Britain at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.”
Wikipedia
“Sam Quek is a presenter on talkSPORT and a regular face on BBC sports coverage.”
talkSPORT official site
“She is the first female captain of A Question of Sport.”
BBC Strictly profile
Summary: Sam Quek in a Nutshell
Sam Quek is an Olympic gold medallist, television presenter, and radio host. She is married to Tom Mairs and has two children. Her net worth is not publicly known but is estimated. She appeared on I’m a Celebrity in 2016 and Strictly Come Dancing in 2024. For more profiles of sports personalities, read about Wynne Evans – Strictly Journey, Partner, Net Worth and Latest News or Orla Chennaoui – Biography, Career And Personal Life.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sam Quek
How old is Sam Quek?
She was born on 18 October 1988, making her 36 years old as of 2025.
Does Sam Quek have a twin?
According to multiple sources, Sam Quek has a twin brother. This was confirmed by Liverpool World.
Does Sam Quek have children?
Yes, she has two children: daughter Molly Doris Mairs (born March 2021) and son Isaac Gregory Mairs (born March 2022).
Who are Sam Quek’s parents?
Her mother is Marilyn Quek (née Higgins) and her father is Albert Quek, a Singaporean Chinese man.
Was Sam Quek on I’m a Celebrity?
Yes, she appeared on the 2016 series of I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!.
What is Sam Quek’s net worth?
Her net worth is not publicly disclosed. Estimates range from £500,000 to £1 million based on her media career.
Where is Sam Quek from?
She was born in Liverpool and grew up in West Derby and later Wirral. She is often called a Scouser.
How many Olympic medals does Sam Quek have?
She has two: a gold (2016) and a bronze (2012), both as part of the Great Britain women’s hockey team.
What does Sam Quek do on talkSPORT?
She hosts a radio show covering sports like football, rugby, and cricket. She also appears as a pundit.
When did Sam Quek marry Tom Mairs?
They married in September 2021. They had earlier held a ceremony in Tenerife in 2017.
More related posts
Tara Sutaria – Biography, Age, Movies, and Personal Life
Patricia Arquette – Age, Movies, and Her Role in Severance
Mitchell Starc – Career Stats, Net Worth, and Retirement News
Polly Walker – Biography, Career, and 2025 Updates
John Krasinski – Biography, Net Worth, and Career Highlights
Ben Askren – Alive After Double Lung Transplant in 2025
Wesley Snipes – Age, Height, Net Worth, Movies, Legal Case
100 GBP to USD – Current Rate, History and Tips
