We are delighted that Tom has joined our BRIT Ambassador family.
Tom completed his collection of international titles at Rio 2016 when he added Olympic gold to his two World Championships and European crown.
“As a former student at the University of York, the University of Cambridge and as a motivational speaker in the education sector, I understand and appreciate the many mental health challenges faced by students and young adults. There has never been a more important time for us to support the many young adults with existing mental health challenges or those who feel isolated and vulnerable.
Ensuring that young adults and students receive support when they need it is vital. It is great to see that BRIT has partnered with PAPYRUS – Prevention of Young Suicide, Nightline Association, Student Minds and the Charlie Waller Trust, so that all donations raised by the BRIT 2021 Challenge will be shared equally between five mental health charities who support students and young adults.
The BRIT 2021 Challenge has been designed to be inclusive and enables students and staff of all abilities to take part by hand-cycling, cycling, wheelchair pushing, swimming, walking, jogging, running, rowing or paddling (canoeing, kayaking or paddle-boarding).
I am thrilled to be joining the BRIT Ambassador family to help support and improve young adult mental health and fitness throughout the UK. I hope every UK university, college and student union enters teams in the BRIT 2021 Challenge and encourages their students and staff to take part at home or on campus.
I urge my fellow Olympians, Paralympians and athletes to join our BRIT Ambassador family so young adults and students at every university and college are inspired to take part in the BRIT 2021 Challenge.
I look forward to encouraging students and staff at the University of York and the University of Cambridge to take on the BRIT 2021 Challenge and supporting them as they complete their 2,021 miles. It would be fantastic if all of Cambridge’s 31 colleges enter teams.”
Tom is Deputy Editor of Row360, the independent global rowing magazine. He was educated at the University of York and University of Cambridge.
Between 2004 and 2007, Tom studied History of Art at the University of York, between 2007 and 2008, studied History at the University of Cambridge and between 2008 and 2009 studied Management Studies, Business Administration and Management at Cambridge Judge Business School.
Tom is a former Cambridge Blue twice representing Cambridge at The Oxford Cambridge University Boat Race and in 2008 led his fellow Cambridge students from the stroke seat of the men’s coxless four at the Poznan World Cup. He ended the season as a World University Games medallist.
At the 2012 Olympic Games in London, Tom won bronze as part of the Great Britain men’s eight crew. His first Olympiad with the national team saw Tom win two World Rowing Championships silver medals and seven World Cup medals.
Tom won gold as part of the men’s eight crew at the 2013 World Rowing Championship in Chungju. It was the first time a men’s eight from Great Britain had won a World Championship title. That season saw Tom win two World Cup gold medals and break the Sydney Olympic course record. In 2014, Tom successfully defended his World Championship title in the men’s eight boat at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.
Tom became a European Champion in 2015 by winning gold with his men’s coxless four crew at the European Rowing Championships in Poznan. Tom and his crew ended the season by winning the bronze medal at the World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette.
At the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio, Tom won gold as part of the Great Britain men’s eight crew. Following the Games Tom was awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year Honours List for his services to rowing.
Despite a clavicle fracture in the winter, Tom began the 2017 season in the men’s eight boat – the only returning member of the victorious Rio 2016 crew. At the first World Cup in Belgrade, the team missed out on gold by less than a second – an impressive performance for such a new crew. An emergency appendectomy prevented Tom competing in the second and third World Cups, but he made it for the World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton.
In 2018, Tom won bronze as part of the Great Britain men’s eight crew at the World Rowing Championships.
Tom was set to compete at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, however after the postponement of the games he announced his retirement from international rowing. Tom spent 10 seasons representing Great Britain.
To read more about Tom’s extraordinary career, his speaking and writing that has included content for BBC Sport, The Guardian, The Telegraph, Radio Times and Row360, please visit his website.