David Ambler

David played rugby at school which he loved, but he found it more difficult to play as he got older because despite being tall, he didn’t have the physique for such a physical sport

His claim to fame is that he scored a try against England’s Ben Earl whilst at school. Whilst the try was ‘deeply unimpressive’, David will continue to mention it whenever he watches England play.

David started his rowing at Tideway Scullers School after seeing his sister row there for several years. Whilst a junior there, Alan Campbell, another Tideway Scullers member was competing internationally having come near the medals in Beijing. Seeing him at the club and following his international racing, David knew he wanted to go to the Olympics as well.

Alongside Alan Campbell, another key inspiration in David’s career is Bobby Thatcher. Having competed at the Olympics himself, Bobby coached David in his last years at school and helped instil a work ethic that has helped him develop from junior level through under 23s and to senior level. David studied in Boston Massachusetts before rowing in Oxford at Oxford Brookes and Oxford University.

David has strong memories of the home Olympics in London 2012. His family had tickets to a few different events, and he saw Beach Volleyball at Horse Guards Parade, Canoe Sprint at Dorney Lake and Greco Roman Wrestling at the Excel Arena. Although he thought wrestling was a bit odd, he found watching random sports at the Games amazing and seeing the crowd get behind a team regardless of nationality was something that stuck with him because it genuinely felt like a celebration of sport and the Games.

To compete at the Olympic Games is to compete at the pinnacle of rowing. It’s something David has always wanted to achieve since he first took up the sport aged 12. To David the Olympics is more than just the sporting performances and he thinks that sharing the experience with his parents, sister and friends would be very special as they have been so instrumental in supporting him throughout his rowing career.