Olympics: Rower Chris Bartley going for gold in 2012

Feb 3 2011 by Paul Glynn, Chester Chronicle

AN ATHLETE whose rowing career began in Chester is aiming to ‘write his own history’ and make the 2012 Olympics Games one to remember.

Chris Bartley, who learned to row along the River Dee while at The King’s School, has just over a year to secure his place in the Team GB squad for the London extravaganza.

The 26-year-old from Farndon became a world champion last year after striking gold in New Zealand as part of Great Britain’s successful men’s lightweight four crew.

But the former Nottingham University oarsman knows he must prove his value all over again and perform at individual trials and three World Cup events, as well as the World Championships in Slovenia, in order to keep his Olympic dream alive.

“It was an amazing experience in New Zealand and great to be part of a winning team,” said Bartley.

“But it doesn’t mean anything now and we all have to go through the same selection process for the Olympics.

“The upcoming events will give us a good opportunity to get to know the rest of the crew again and experience some hard racing.

“I’m best at sweeping, which is the position with the long blade, and I’m hoping to be in our top six lightweights.”

Like fellow Chester Olympic hopefuls Tom James, Olivia Whitlam and Vicky Thornley, Bartley was coached at King’s by Neville Orme.

He hopes to pay his former coach the ultimate compliment by following in the footsteps of Zac Purchase and Mark Hunter – the duo who won lightweight gold at the Beijing Games three years ago – and go on to become an Olympic champion and inspire a future generation of rowers.

Bartley, who coaches part-time at Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School in Marlow near his home in Henley, said: “The rowing world is small, we all know each other and I went right through college and uni with Olivia.

“Neville Orme, the coach at Chester, was a great influence on me and he taught me everything I knew when I was younger.

“I didn’t really like rowing at first but now I find it a fun lifestyle. It’s laid back, better than an office job and I get to be around a great group of people.

“When the Olympics comes around it’ll be the right time for me.

“People talk about legends like Sir Steve Redgrave and Sir Matthew Pinsent, but hopefully we will be the names they will look up to in years to come. We’re writing our own history and want to be the best lightweight crew in the world.

“There’s no guarantees about being selected or what I’ll do afterwards, but I won’t leave any stone unturned to see my Olympic dream come true.”