GB Rowing Team return to training for Olympic and Paralympic season

The GB Rowing Team were back in training this week as the final year of preparations begins for the Olympic and Paralympic Games

After a short break following the World Championships, the GB Rowing Team returned to their Caversham training base this week to begin the fourth and final year of preparation for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Director of Performance Brendan Purcell said: “Last year was all about qualifying and it’s great to have ten Olympic and three Paralympic boats already secured for Tokyo; the athletes, coaches and staff all worked hard through the year to achieve these performances.

“Our focus now shifts to stepping up and delivering medal-winning performances in Tokyo. There’s a lot of work to do over the next ten months to ensure we are in the best possible shape when it counts.”

With 41 places secured, GB currently have the highest number of rowers heading to next year’s Olympic Games. The team qualified ten boats at the World Championships in Linz-Ottensheim and won four medals: bronze in the men’s eight, men’s four, lightweight women’s double and lightweight women’s single.

The para-rowing squad also put in a fantastic performance at the World Championships, claiming two gold medals in the PR2 mixed double and PR3 mixed coxed four and qualifying all three boats for next year’s Paralympic Games.

The next milestone for both squads is the first assessment in November; this is an open trial consisting of a 2km ergo and 5km time trial. See our Senior and U23 trials page for more information.