| Rank | Event | Year | Location | Result |
| Olympic Games | ||||
| 1 | Four | 2008 | Beijing, CHN | 6:06.57 |
| 9 | Eight | 2004 | Athens, GRE | 5:55.77 |
| World Championships | ||||
| 1 | Four | 2011 | Bled, SLO | 5:55.18 |
| 3 | Eight | 2007 | Munich, GER | 5:37.95 |
| 3 | Eight | 2003 | Milan, ITA | 6:03.45 |
| World Cup | ||||
| 1 | Four | 2012 | Lucerne, SUI | 5:50.84 |
| 1 | Four | 2012 | Lucerne, SUI | 5:50.84 |
| 1 | Four | 2012 | Belgrade, SRB | 5:50.29 |
| 1 | Four | 2012 | Belgrade, SRB | 5:50.29 |
| 1 | Four | 2011 | Lucerne, SUI | 5:53.84 |
| 1 | Four | 2011 | Munich, GER | 5:52.74 |
| 2 | Four | 2012 | Munich, GER | 6:11.15 |
| 2 | Four | 2012 | Munich, GER | 6:11.15 |
Occupation
Athlete
Education
Engineering - Cambridge University, Cambridge, GBR
Club name
Molesey Boat Club, London, GBR
Coach
John West (GBR) (britishrowing.org, 01 Mar 2012)
Sporting relatives
He ran the 2009 London Marathon. (walesonline.co.uk, 25 Nov 2009)
Debut
2003 for Great Britain, World Cup (Munich) (rowingone.com, 01 Mar 2012)
Injuries
In early 2012 he was diagnosed as suffering from a heart complaint called atrial fibrillation, where his heart rate would accelerate up to 220 beats per minute, even with minimal physical exertion. The problem is not that common for people under the age of 30, but has a genetic component, and there is a history of it in his family. (walesonline.co.uk, 27 Jan 2012)
He missed the 2010 season with a long-standing back injury that was eventually diagnosed as a hip problem. He had surgery on the hip in late 2010. (chesterchronicle.co.uk, 13 Jan 2011; guardian.co.uk, 16 Mar 2011)
He missed the Munich and Lucerne legs of the 2008 World Cup with injury. (britishrowing.org, 01 Mar 2012)
Illness forced him to miss the semi-final of the eight at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. He returned to stroke for the crew in the B final. (britishrowing.org, 01 Mar 2012)
Additional information
Start of sporting career
He took up rowing at the age of 13 at the King's School in Chester. (walesonline.co.uk, 13 Sep 2008)
Reason for taking up this sport
He had an ongoing knee problem and his physiotherapist mum Julia told him he had to stop running on it. The King's School had a boat club, so he turned to rowing and was encouraged by success in his first year on the water. (walesonline.co.uk, 13 Sep 2008)
Ambitions
To win a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games in London. (walesonline.co.uk, 26 Mar 2009)
Most memorable sporting achievement
Winning gold in the four at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. (news.bbc.co.uk, 16 Aug 2008)
Sporting philosophy / motto
"Rowing is a very demanding, physical sport. You're a complete athlete, your lungs, arms, legs, body are all working very hard." (walesonline.co.uk, 13 Sep 2008)
"I look forward to the racing. The higher level you get to in rowing the less racing you do. So when you get the opportunity, you relish it." (walesonline.co.uk, 27 Jan 2012)
Awards
He was conferred as an Member of the British Empire [MBE] in the 2009 New Year's Honours list. (britishrowing.org, 01 Mar 2012)
In 2008 one of Wales' leading national newspapers - the Western Mail, named him top of its annual list of Wales' Sexiest Men. (walesonline.co.uk, 13 Sep 2008)
General
BREAK
He took a break from the sport following the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing to pursue a variety of personal projects. "It's quite nice to get away from rowing 24/7 and training three times a day. I've had the chance to relax and spend more time with people, just enjoying myself and it's been great, a chance to recharge the batteries." He returned to training for the 2010 season but sustained an injury which kept him out of competition for the year. He returned to international action for Great Britain in the four at the 2011 World Cup meet in Munich and eventually returned to full training in early January 2012. (walesonline.co.uk, 26 Mar 2009, 27 Jan 2012; britishrowing.org, 01 Mar 2012)
FRUSTRATION
He admitted his frustration at the prospect of not being cheered on by large numbers of family and friends at the 2012 Olympic Games in London as a result of frustrations with the ticketing policy. Having failed to get Olympic tickets in the ballot, the support he received in Beijing is unlikely to be repeated, even with the Games at 'home'. "Many people have sacrificed their lives to enable us to take on our selfish pursuit. So it's frustrating they won't get the reward of seeing us compete." (thisislondon.co.uk, 27 Oct 2011)
BOAT RACE
Representing Trinity Hall, he rowed in the annual varsity boat race for Cambridge on four occasions, in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007. In 2007 he was elected President of the Cambridge crew and, after three defeats, enjoyed his first victory in the race. "I didn't really want to think about losing again. I don't know what I would have done. Having lost three times, it's a great relief not to be in that situation again." He was also part of Cambridge's coaching team for the 2009 race. (eng.cam.ac.uk, 02 May 2007; walesonline.co.uk, 26 Mar 2009; britishrowing.org, 01 Mar 2012)
OTHER ACTIVITIES
He is a patron of two charities, WVP Kenya, based in Kenya to bring education and support to children, and the Movement Centre, aimed at helping disabled children with movement difficulties. (britishrowing.org, 01 Mar 2012)
Previous Olympics
Beijing 2008, Athens 2004
