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Rochelle Okoye is a globally recognized Hollywood stuntwoman, actress, best-selling author, motivational speaker, and trauma-informed breathwork facilitator certified by SOMA Breath. Combining elite athleticism, academic achievement, and profound personal growth, Rochelle has forged a diverse career centered on resilience and empowerment.
Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Rochelle began gymnastics training at age two. At seven, her family moved to the UK, where her father earned his PhD at Cambridge and Oxford. By age 10, she was competing internationally for Great Britain and became the British National Gymnastics Champion in 1996, holding the title for three consecutive years. She was also twice honored as England’s Top Sports Person Under 13. At 14, the BBC produced a one-hour documentary, Going for Gold, highlighting her pursuit of a spot on the 2000 Olympic team.
Her Olympic dream was halted when the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) raised the minimum age for Olympic competition to 16, leaving her just one year short of eligibility. This turning point shifted her athletic path.
An academic standout, Rochelle skipped a grade and graduated from high school and university early. She earned a B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Northern British Columbia and worked with children and youth facing developmental, cognitive, and behavioral challenges.
Motivated by a passion to push physical and mental boundaries, Rochelle transitioned to martial arts, training and competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai. She also pursued a successful amateur and professional boxing career, becoming the first female boxer to fight professionally in British Columbia in 2008. During this period, she earned a diploma in personal training and co-founded the renowned Tristar Vancouver Martial Arts gym.
Rochelle’s physical discipline naturally evolved into a flourishing career as a Hollywood stunt performer and actress. Having overcome adversity, trauma, and significant personal challenges, she embraced various healing practices to reclaim her strength and give back. Today, she empowers others through her best-selling book With Every Damn Brick, her impactful TEDx Talk How to Turn Your Pain Into Power, and her roles as a motivational speaker and breathwork facilitator. Her journey exemplifies transformation, and she dedicates her life to helping others turn their past struggles into strength, purpose, and impact.
Rochelle appears on the big screen in major Hollywood blockbusters and on television in popular series, excelling in both acting and stunt roles.
Follow her on Instagram: @rochelle.okoye and @rochelleokoyehealth
Purchase her book on Amazon. Watch her TEDx Talk on the TEDx YouTube channel or the TED website.
