Eight members of Oxford Brookes University Boat Club have been selected to represent Team GB at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The University’s boat club will make up the entire crew for the men’s coxless four event and four members of the men’s eight to compete on the world stage at the pinnacle of the sport.
Rowers Oli Wilkes, David Ambler, Matt Aldridge and Freddie Davidson make up the men’s coxless four, and Rory Gibbs, Morgan Bolding and Tom Digby will row in the eight, with Harry Brightmore selected as their coxswain.
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The eight squad members, all Oxford Brookes alumni, join an illustrious list of 12 former students from the University who have rowed at previous Olympic Games.
The Team GB squad of 42, made up of 23 women and 19 men, includes 21 brand-new and 21 returning Olympians.
Richard Spratley, who has been Director of Rowing at OBUBC for 30 years, said: “Our boat club members being selected for the Olympic Games fills us with immense pride.
“They have demonstrated that they are elite, world-class rowing athletes and have now earned the honour of representing Team GB.
“I have no doubt they will make their families, their country, and OBUBC very proud.
“Along with the entire country, we will be avidly supporting them this summer.
“Oxford Brookes has a very proud history when it comes to rowing, with 12 of our former athletes also having earned Olympic honours, as well as being the most successful university at the world-famous Henley Royal Regatta since 1993, with 36 overall wins.
“However, we are passionate about giving the opportunity for all standards of rowers to enjoy the sport and to compete.
“We run a fantastic ‘Learn to Row’ programme here at OBUBC, which means that total beginners can get in a boat, and learn and enjoy the sport.”
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Louise Kingsley, British Rowing director of performance, who will be rowing team leader in Paris, said: “This Olympic cycle has come with a few challenges along the way, but the athletes, support staff and coaches have really pulled together to create a fantastic atmosphere, culture and training environment that has lead to impressive results on the water.
"We qualified nine boats at the 2023 World Rowing Championships and added a tenth most recently at the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta.
“Now we have selected a very strong team of athletes with a good mix of returning and first-time Olympians who I know are relishing the opportunity to go out there and write a unique chapter in the legacy of the GB Rowing Team.”
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