Chambers calls time but stays in our sport

Richard Chambers is moving to a new coaching role at CUBC.

Three-times Olympian, twice World Champion and 2012 Olympic silver medallist Richard Chambers has decided to call time on his rowing career to take up a coaching post with Cambridge University Boat Club.

Chambers won his two World titles in 2007 and 2010 in the lightweight men’s four and added Olympic silver in the same boat in 2012.

The Coleraine rower made his mark at senior level in 2006 having won World U23 gold in the lightweight men’s pair earlier that year.

Chambers, whose younger brother Peter is also part of the GB Rowing Team, won European silvers in 2014 and 2015 in the lightweight men’s double scull before taking World silver in 2015 with his 2016 Olympic partner Will Fletcher.

A graduate of Oxford Brookes, Chambers has not been out off the World senior podium since 2010 having won a gold, a silver and three bronzes since the edition in Karapiro, New Zealand.

Chambers said:  “I have had a career in rowing which has been much greater than I could have ever dreamed.  I never believed that I would make one Olympic Games never mind, three.

“I have always been proud to represent my country as a lightweight at rowing and I have enjoyed my career through all the ups and downs.  I will forever be grateful to my coaches Robin Williams, Rob Morgan and Darren Whiter with whom I have worked with since I joined in 2005.

“I will always be thankful to the incredible medical team who have helped me through my injuries.  Without them I would not have competed in any of the last three Olympics”.

Sir David Tanner, British Rowing’s Performance Director said: “Richard has always been able to dig deep and put every ounce of his ability and energy into rowing for Great Britain.  He has had a hugely successful career and we wish him well in what will be an exciting, new challenge”.

Steve Trapmore MBE, Chief Coach at CUBC, believes that Richard is a hugely positive addition to the CUBC programme. “I’m really excited to bring someone with Richard’s wealth of training and racing experience to the coaching team at CUBC.

“He has been an integral member of the most successful international rowing team in the world for almost a decade and will further strengthen the momentum that we have built at CUBC. I very much look forward to working with him as we prepare for the 2017 and subsequent Cancer Research UK Boat Races”.

Chambers also took the opportunity of his retirement to pay tribute to the current GB squad. He said:  “People often ask me who my biggest inspiration is, my answer is the current athletes.  I have had the privilege to row with some of the greatest athletes in rowing and I have watched rowers achieve what they never thought could be possible.

“I am looking forward to my new role at CUBC and the challenges that it will present.  Through my role I hope to develop and feed GB Rowing Team with the next generation of Olympic athletes”.