Gold and Bronze medals for talented Boat Club members at Paris Olympic Games
Athletes from Oxford Brookes University Boat Club (OBUBC) powered to thrilling Gold and Bronze medals in two rowing events at the Paris Olympic Games.
The Team GB Men’s Eight, with four OBUBC members, won a stunning Gold medal in their final race on Saturday morning, just two days after the Men’s Coxless Four boat, consisting exclusively of OBUBC members, won a Bronze.
Rowers Rory Gibbs, Morgan Bolding, and Tom Digby, with coxswain Harry Brightmore, won Team GB rowing squad’s eighth medal in Paris, seeing off a hard contest from a strong Netherlands crew who came in second, and the United States in third. This was the fifth successive Olympics that Team GB’s Men’s Eights finished in the top three.
Their success took the overall tally of Team GB rowing medals to its highest ever at an overseas Olympic Games, and adds to the fantastic record of the Men’s Eight squad who headed into the Olympics as reigning World and European Champions.
Team GB Men’s Eight competing in their heat race at the Olympic Games. Image credited to Steve McArthur/ British Rowing.
The Men’s Eight victory came just two days after OBUBC rowers Oli Wilkes, David Ambler, Matt Aldridge and Freddie Davidson clinched a Bronze medal in a fiercely competitive final in the Men’s Coxless Four.
Oli, David, Matt and Freddie brought Team GB’s prestigious Men’s Coxless Four boat back onto the medal podium after missing out in Tokyo 2020, after six successive Olympic Games a medal winning boat.
Team GB were in fourth position half way through the race, but overtook the Italian crew with 800m to go to secure a podium position, finishing over two seconds ahead of them.
From left to right - Freddie Davidson, Matt Aldridge, David Ambler and Oli Wilkes with their Bronze medals in the after-race ceremony. Image credited to Steve McArthur/ British Rowing.
Richard Spratley, Director of Rowing at Oxford Brookes University Boat Club, said: “We are immensely proud of our athletes' extraordinary achievements at the pinnacle of rowing in the Paris Olympics. Winning Gold and Bronze medals is a testament to their own hard work, sacrifices and dedication, as well as the strong rowing programme we have at Oxford Brookes University.
“The performances of Rory, Morgan, Tom, Harry, Oli, David, Matt, and Freddie have not only showcased their individual talents but also highlighted the strength and unity of our team. Their success on the world stage is an inspiration to all our rowers and reflects the high standards we strive for every day at OBUBC."