Florence Schelling, an Olympic and World Championship bronze medalist, is recognized as the world’s top ice hockey goalkeeper.
In addition to her ice hockey career, Florence has earned a Masters in Business Administration and Sports Management, is a Certified Professional Coach, and has gained experience across various private sector industries. She brings a distinctive viewpoint and extensive expertise that goes well beyond the ice rink.
Florence Schelling – Inductee of the IIHF Hall of Fame 2026
Florence Schelling’s passion for ice hockey began at age 4 when she joined her brothers’ goalie drills in their garage. This early involvement fueled her strong ambition to become an ice hockey goalkeeper and set the stage for her remarkable career.
Florence Schelling Lecture Topics
- Focused on the Goal – Developing greater courage, motivation, and resilience; how willpower and clarity can guide you toward success.
- High-Performing Teams – Understanding team composition, psychological safety, and leadership dynamics.
- Successful Failure – Building resilience, perseverance, and self-management skills.
- Decision Making – Strategies for achieving shared goals, fostering a positive error culture, and encouraging self-reflection.
- Sport & Business – Exploring the similarities between success principles, mindset, and motivation in both fields.
- The Power of Habits – Enhancing adaptability, innovation, and time management through effective routines.
At 8 years old, Florence set a significant goal: to compete in the Olympic Games, even though women’s ice hockey was not yet an Olympic sport at that time. By age 13, she was selected for the national team and served as a regular goalkeeper for Switzerland from 2003 to 2018.
Throughout her 15-year tenure as a national team goalkeeper, Florence Schelling repeatedly broke barriers. She was the youngest player at the 2006 Olympic Games and led her team to the bronze medal match at the 2008 World Championship, marking the best result in Swiss history. In 2012, she earned her first bronze medal at the World Championships and was named best goalkeeper. At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, she won bronze with the national team and received multiple accolades, including most valuable player, best goalkeeper, and a spot on the tournament’s all-star team.
Florence Schelling played 190 international matches, participated in four Winter Olympics, and competed in eleven World Championships. She spent 17 years as a goalkeeper for the men’s teams of GCK / ZSC Lions and EHC Bülach, winning three Swiss championships and becoming the first woman to play goal for the GCK Lions’ National League B team.
After retiring in 2018, Florence became a regular ice hockey expert on SRF, coached the U18 national team, and later made history as the first woman worldwide to serve as sports director of a professional men’s team, SC Bern.
Florence Schelling continuously challenged herself and contributed her skills and positive energy to various ice hockey clubs in Switzerland, the USA, Canada, and Sweden.
During her extensive career as a professional ice hockey goalkeeper, Florence learned that maintaining clear focus was essential for peak daily performance. She developed specific focus strategies and techniques to balance high-performance sport, work, and personal life. Currently, she works independently as a Focus Finder and serves on several boards of directors. In this role, she inspires others to discover their optimal focus to reach ambitious goals.
Florence Schelling is an engaging and motivating keynote speaker who captivates audiences with her personality and expertise. Her compelling stories from sports, management, and international experiences highlight key themes of leadership, teamwork, and personal achievement.
