Rochelle Okoye (b. 1985)
Birthplace:
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Born:
May 26, 1985
Rochelle Okoye is a world-renowned Hollywood stunt woman, actress, best-selling author, motivational speaker, and trauma-informed breath work facilitator certified through SOMA Breath. With a powerful blend of elite athleticism, academic excellence, and deep personal transformation, Rochelle has built a multifaceted career rooted in resilience and empowerment. Born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Rochelle began her gymnastics training at the age of two. At seven, her family relocated to the UK, where her father completed his PhD at Cambridge and Oxford Universities. By age 10, she was competing internationally for Great Britain, becoming the British National Gymnastics Champion in 1996-a title she held for three consecutive years. She was also twice nominated and awarded as England's Top Sports Person Under 13. At 14, the BBC produced a one-hour documentary titled Going for Gold, chronicling her pursuit of a spot on the 2000 Olympic team. That dream was cut short when the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) raised the age requirement for Olympic competition to 16-leaving Rochelle ineligible by just one year. This pivotal moment redirected the course of her athletic journey. An academic high achiever, Rochelle skipped a grade and graduated from both high school and university a year early. She earned her B.Sc. in Psychology from the University of Northern British Columbia and went on to work with children and youth navigating developmental, cognitive, and behavioral challenges. Driven by a lifelong desire to push physical and mental limits, Rochelle transitioned into martial arts-training and competing in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and Muay Thai-she also embarked on a successful amateur and professional boxing career. In 2008, she made history as the first female boxer to compete in a professional fight in British Columbia. During this time, she also earned her diploma in personal training and later went on to become the co-founder of the acclaimed Tristar Vancouver Martial Arts gym. Rochelle's physical discipline seamlessly translated into a thriving career as a Hollywood stunt performer and actress. Having overcome a life marked by adversity, trauma, and profound personal challenges, she has immersed herself in various healing modalities to rise, reclaim her power, and give back. Today, she uses her platform to empower others through her best-selling book With Every Damn Brick, her powerful TEDx Talk How to Turn Your Pain Into Power, and her work as a motivational speaker and breath work facilitator. Her story is a testament to transformation, and she now dedicates her life to helping others do the same-teaching that no matter how heavy the past, it can be alchemized into strength, purpose, and impact.