New horizons for Harry Leask
Olympic and World silver medallist Harry Leask is leaving the GB Rowing Team to join his former team-mate Matt Rossiter as a cyclor for the INEOS Britannia America’s Cup Sailing Team
Harry’s first experience of rowing was as a junior at George Watson’s College in Scotland where he was coached by Jim Ferguson. He represented Great Britain at U23 level and was invited to join the senior GB Rowing Team in April 2018. His first senior international medal came at the European Championships hosted in Glasgow in 2018 and later that season he finished fourth in the Men’s Single Sculls at the World Championships. He became an established member of the sculling team and combined with Angus Groom, Jack Beaumont and Tom Barras to win a silver medal at the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics, making history as the first British boat to medal in the Men’s Quadruple Sculls at an Olympic Games.
In 2022, he matched his Tokyo success winning a silver medal at the World Rowing Championships in Racice. The GB Men’s Quad of Harry Leask, Tom Barras, George Bourne and Matt Haywood ended the season on a high, producing their best performance of the year.
Speaking about his move, Harry said: “I’m incredibly excited about my move to INEOS. After getting silver in Tokyo and making history in the process, that was something of a dream.
“Now it’s time to rise to a new challenge and racing at the America’s Cup as a cyclor* for INEOS Britannia will be just that.”
Paul Stannard, GB Rowing Team Men’s Olympic Head Coach said: “Harry is a fierce competitor and we wish him well as he transitions to a new sport where he can combine his love of cycling with the feeling of being out on the water. I am sure his cool head and great work ethic will see him excel with INEOS. As a member of the first GB men’s quad to win an Olympic medal, Harry’s name joins the list of GB scullers to break new ground in that event over the past ten years.”
*Cyclors, short for ‘cycling sailors’, pedal to provide power to hydraulic systems used in high-tech racing yachts.
