Giedre Rakauskaite MBE

Like many youngsters, Giedre dreamed of being an international elite athlete as a child and started rowing aged 14

Around a year later, her life changed when her leg was badly injured in a car accident. Doctors worked hard to save her leg from being amputated but she was left on crutches and despite not being able to walk for many months, was keen to get back into a boat and out on the water as soon as she could.

She moved to the UK in September 2011 to study at the University of Worcester and the town quickly became her home. She joined Worcester RC, secured a job as rowing coach with Hereford Cathedral School and was talent scouted as a future star by Great Britain in 2015.

Giedre joined the GB Para-rowing Team in 2017 and has become an established member of the squad, continuing the 14 year unbeaten run of the PR3 Mixed coxed four and becoming double World Champion in 2022 when she raced in the PR3 women’s pair AND PR3 Mixed coxed four. She won gold at the Paralympic Games in Tokyo 2020 and is now looking to retain her title in Paris.

She is currently studying a sports management masters and despite most days being ‘row, study, sleep, repeat’, spends any free time doing arts and crafts, mainly painting.