Sam Scrimgeour

Rower // Lightweight Men's Squad
Date of Birth: 28th Jan 1988 (36 years old)
Club: Molesey BC
Height: 180.00
Hometown: Kirriemuir

Sam Scrimgeour profile image

Former World and reigning European champion Sam Scrimgeour was named as the lightweight men's spare for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Sam Scrimgeour raced in the lightweight men’s pair for nearly all of the Rio Olympiad, winning medals at four successive World Championships, and was an established member of a very competitive lightweight men’s squad.

Scrimgeour decided to retire from international rowing at the end of the 2017 season, in which he raced in the lightweight men’s pair with Joel Cassells.

Sam is a former World Champion and reigning European Champion in the lightweight men's pair

On The Water

2016

European Champion Lightweight Men's Pair

World Bronze Medallist Lightweight Men's Pair

2015

World Champion Lightweight Men's Pair

2014

European Silver Medallist Lightweight Men's Pair

World Bronze Medallist Lightweight Men's Pair

2013

World Bronze Medallist Lightweight Men's Pair

2012

European Silver Medallist Lightweight Men's Four

2010

World U23 Bronze Medallist Lightweight Men's Quadruple Scull

Rio 2016 Olympiad: 2013 – 2016

After claiming the World title in 2015, Sam and Joel Cassells continued their lightweight men’s pair partnership in 2016 and won an impressive hat-trick of gold medals – at the European Championships in Brandenburg and the World Cups in Lucerne and Poznan.

Sam, who had won the GB Rowing Team Trials alongside Jono Clegg, then went to the Rio 2016 Olympic Games as the lightweight men’s spare before heading back to Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to renew his partnership with Joel at the World Championships. They won their heat and semi-final to extend their unbeaten record but were edged into third place in a thrilling final and had to settle for bronze medals.

He had started 2015 as part of a new-look lightweight men’s four with Jono, Mark Aldred and Chris Bartley, finishing fourth at the European Championships in Poznan. Sam and Jono then moved to the lightweight pair for the World Cup regattas in Varese and Lucerne, winning silver at both.

Sam was joined in the boat by Joel Cassells for the World Championships in Aiguebelette and the pair produced an impressive performance to win gold by a three-second margin.

Sam was also in the lightweight pair during 2013 and 2014. He was partnered by Mark Aldred in the first year, winning World Cup gold at both Eton Dorney and Lucerne before claiming bronze at the World Championships in Chungju.

The following season saw Sam and Jono win silver at the European Championships in Belgrade and, after narrowly missing out on a medal at Aiguebelette, return to the podium with a third-placed finish at the Lucerne World Cup. They stepped up again at the World Championships in Amsterdam and only just missed out on a silver medal after a strong performance in the final.

Jono Clegg and Sam Scrimgeour won lightweight men's pair silver at the Lucerne World Cup in 2015

London 2012 Olympiad: 2009 – 2012

Sam made the leap to the senior squad in 2012 when he raced at the European Rowing Championships in Varese, winning a solid silver medal in the lightweight men’s four with Adam Freeman-Pask, Will Fletcher and Jono Clegg.

He had won gold in the lightweight four at the 2009 National Championships before making his first GB Rowing Team appearance at the 2010 World U23 Championship in Brest, winning a bronze medal in the lightweight quad.

Sam went on to compete in the lightweight men’s double with Jamie Kirkwood at the FISU World University Rowing Championships in Hungary, finishing eighth.

GB Competitive Record

World Rowing Championships
2017 4th LM2-
2016 LM2-
2015 LM2-
2014 LM2-
2013 LM2-
World Rowing Championships:
2017
4th
LM2-
World Rowing Championships:
2016
LM2-
World Rowing Championships:
2015
LM2-
World Rowing Championships:
2014
LM2-
World Rowing Championships:
2013
LM2-
European Rowing Championships
2017 5th LM2-
2016 LM2-
2015 4th LM4-
2014 LM2-
2013 LM4-
European Rowing Championships:
2017
5th
LM2-
European Rowing Championships:
2016
LM2-
European Rowing Championships:
2015
4th
LM4-
European Rowing Championships:
2014
LM2-
European Rowing Championships:
2013
LM4-
World Rowing Cup Regattas
2017 Lucerne 4th LM2-
2017 Poznan LM2-
2017 Belgrade LM2-
2016 Poznan LM2-
2016 Lucerne LM2-
2015 Lucerne LM2-
2015 Varese LM2-
World Rowing Cup Regattas:
2017 Lucerne
4th
LM2-
World Rowing Cup Regattas:
2017 Poznan
LM2-
World Rowing Cup Regattas:
2017 Belgrade
LM2-
World Rowing Cup Regattas:
2016 Poznan
LM2-
World Rowing Cup Regattas:
2016 Lucerne
LM2-
World Rowing Cup Regattas:
2015 Lucerne
LM2-
World Rowing Cup Regattas:
2015 Varese
LM2-
World Rowing U23 Championships
2010 LM4x
World Rowing U23 Championships:
2010
LM4x
World University Rowing Championships
2010 8th LM2x
World University Rowing Championships:
2010
8th
LM2x
GB Rowing Team Senior Trials
2016 1st LM2-
2015 9th LM1x
2014 5th LM1x
2013 6th LM1x
2012 6th LM1x
2011 14th M2-
GB Rowing Team Senior Trials:
2016
1st
LM2-
GB Rowing Team Senior Trials:
2015
9th
LM1x
GB Rowing Team Senior Trials:
2014
5th
LM1x
GB Rowing Team Senior Trials:
2013
6th
LM1x
GB Rowing Team Senior Trials:
2012
6th
LM1x
GB Rowing Team Senior Trials:
2011
14th
M2-

More info...

Club: Molesey BC
Boat: Lightweight Men’s Squad
Role: Rower
Learnt to Row: Strathclyde University Boat Club
Original Club(s): Strathclyde University Boat Club, Glasgow Rowing Club, Imperial College BC
Original Coach(es): Don McLachlan, Rob Morgan

Beyond the Boat

Sam started rowing in 2005 in his first year at Strathclyde University where he studied for and achieved a Masters in Aero-Mechanical Engineering.  Before then his plan had been to fly helicopters for a living or be a rally driver – Colin McRae was a big hero of his.

Chris Hoy is his current sporting hero and Sam is a keen cyclist himself.  In April and May 2008 he biked 7,001km in 59 days from Singapore through Malaysia, Thailand, Laos and Vietnam, finishing in Hanoi.

He also enjoys working on the farm where he grew up in Scotland and describes home as his perfect travel destination – “I can see my family and drive tractors.”

Sam used to play the cello but he loves all music that isn’t hardcore heavy metal or trance.  Particular favourites are Milky Chance, M People, Clean Bandit, Kings of Leon, Cat Stevens, Paul Simon, Imagine Dragons and Runrig.

Gogglebox is his favourite TV show and the original Italian Job is the film of choice for Sam, whose ideal post-competition meal is a Sunday roast with all the trimmings.

Sam is Lottery funded through UK Sport.

Personal information

Place of Birth Current Address Home Town Region
Kirriemuir Barnes Kirriemuir Angus
Place of Birth:
Kirriemuir
Current Address:
Barnes
Home Town:
Kirriemuir
Region:
Angus
Date of Birth Weight Height
28th January 1988 70kg 180cm
Date of Birth:
28th January 1988
Weight:
70kg
Height:
180cm
Education
Strathclyde University
Education:
Strathclyde University