Career
He began rowing at Bedford Modern School and competed in the Junior World Rowing Championships in 1987 and 1988. In the latter he competed in a pair with Matthew Pinsent. From there he proceeded into the senior squad.
In 1993 he underwent back surgery but was straight back in the boat for the 1994 season, winning Bronze in the coxless four at the World Championships.
Following his Olympic medal, he continued his university studies at Oxford, competing in the 1997 Boat Race. In the run up to the Olympics, he again needed back surgery and time off after severing tendons in his hand by punching a window at a boat club party.
In August 2000, the month prior to winning gold in Sydney, a three-part British Broadcasting Corporation documentary entitled Gold Fever was broadcast. This followed the coxless four team in the years leading up to the Olympics, including video diaries recording the highs and lows in the quest for gold.
He was awarded an Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire for his part in this in 2001.
After Sydney, he retired from international rowing, and retired as an active rower in July 2001. After a stint coaching at the University of London Boat Club, he joined the United Kingdom Sport-sponsored Elite Coach Programme in 2004. In January 2007, he became the Head Coach of the Swiss national rowing squad.
Olympic Games World Championships Junior World Championships.