World champion rower returns to former school

WORLD champion rower Matt Gotrel paid a visit to his former school last week to speak about his life as a professional athlete.

The former international sailor was at Chipping Campden School where students were able to question him on his dedication which has already won him back-to-back gold medals in the men's eight in 2014 and 2015.

Gotrel, who is part of the GB rowing squad, also brought with him the bronze medal that he won at the recent European Rowing Championships in Germany.

He spoke to more than 100 students about the regimented life of a professional athlete at the GB rowing training centre in Caversham, his experience at training camps around the world, and what it’s like competing at the elite level of the sport.

Gotrel said: “It was great to be back and to see so many students turn up, and to see a lot of my old teachers - it brought back a lot of memories.

"I remember doing lots of different sports when I was at school, but never thought I would end up rowing. I didn't realise it was even an option.

"So hopefully, a few students left thinking that with a bit of hard work and resilience they can do anything they want, and it's never too late to start! If you give anything in life one hundred percent, you might find you surprise yourself.”

The 27-year-old left Chipping Campden School in 2007 before going on to Loughborough University, where he discovered an aptitude for rowing.

After 18 months as a professional sailor, he was accepted on to a GB training programme and went on to make his GB rowing team debut at the 2012 European Championships.

He goes into the 2016 season aiming to join the ranks of GB rowing team graduates to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio.

Fifteen-year old pupil Isabella Clarke, who competes for Evesham Rowing Club said: “I found Matt’s talk really inspirational.

"It was a really good insight into the day-to-day life with the GB squad.

"It proves that it doesn’t matter where you come from or what school you went to. The Olympics are achievable if you really set your mind to it.