Rowing

A diverse rowing programme

Start

Since 2003, the University of Bath has played host to a Lottery-funded GB Rowing Team World-Class Start Centre – identifying young non-rowers who have the potential to become Olympic champions and providing them with top-level coaching and support services.

BUCS squads

Our rowing programme also includes a diverse university set-up which ranges from squads who compete in the BUCS leagues against the best rowing universities in the country to opportunities for men and women who have never rowed before.

Notable alumni

A number of former Start and student rowers at the University of Bath have gone on to represent GB at U23 and international level.

Most famously, British pair Helen Glover and Heather Stanning were both based at the University during their careers.

They went on to win GB’s first ever women’s Olympic rowing gold when they stormed to coxless pairs victory at London 2012 and successfully defended their title at Rio 2016.

Fellow Start rower Vicky Thornley (below, left) has also enjoyed a spectacular career, winning silver at Rio 2016 in the double sculls with Katherine Grainger and then at the 2017 World Championships in the single scull.

Sam Courty, Frazier Christie and Tokyo 2020 Olympian Sara Parfett all made their senior GB Rowing Team debuts in recent years.