row2k Starting Five: GB's Alex Gregory

Alex Gregory of the GBR M4-

1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?

I knew nothing about rowing when I was growing up. Swimming was my thing, so when a good mate of mine from school returned from a rowing summer course at the local rowing club and suggested I give rowing a go I was very reluctant. He insisted I'd enjoy it and kept pestering me to come down and have a go. Eventually I relented and joined him one evening. I knew straight away it was something I wanted to pursue.

2. Was there a practice, race or other event when you fell in love with the sport, or when you knew you might not be too bad at rowing? When you thought you could make the national team?

Becoming a reasonably good rower was never a sudden thing, it was a very gradual evolution. I must say I enjoyed the process of working things out and slowly getting to grips with the stroke and learning to move together as a crew. I was lucky, when I started I was already fit from my swimming so I didn't ever have to go through that process while trying to learn this complicated technical new sport. I found there were a lot of transferrable skills from swimming too which helped me along in the early days. I think the biggest and most important thing was that I was shown support through all times, good and bad. This gave me belief in my abilities and potential, my job was just to navigate the paths leading to my goals!

3. Best race, worst race?

There are a few races I will never forget for good reasons and a couple I will never forget for bad. I have had so many disappointments in my time but now I look back on them as useful experiences and I value having gone through those tough times.

In 2005 at the U23 World championships I was in a double scull with a guy called Colin Smith. A highly experienced, tough racer who I was really pleased to be selected in a boat with. We had speed, we were a good crew looking to medal in Amsterdam. The heat went very well, we won the semi final and so on paper the gold was going to be between us and an Italian crew. After a good start we settled into our race and were neck and neck with the Italians miles up on the rest of the field. Going through the 1000m marker suddenly things started to go wrong. I could feel it flooding through me, heavy limbs, short breaths, blackness creeping into the corner of my eyes. I was out of control and couldn't do anything about it. The Italians slipped past us, the other crews were closing in and Colin, sitting behind me was shouting "keep moving". I couldn't. I don't remember the last 500m and blacked out over the line. Some time later I was lying in the medical centre, head pounding. Colin walked in, head down looking miserable. I asked him where we'd come, the answer was 4th. We were devastated, I'd let everyone down so badly. After a number of years of disappointment before that, I'd hit a low point and seriously questioned if I was cut out for this sport.

The best races are those that feel easy, where everything fits into place and everything you do feels almost effortless. This is of course rowing so those words are relative, but you know what I mean. It’s only when you cross the line and the call to stop comes do you realise just how much you were putting in. The pain comes flooding in, but it’s a pain that comes with a feeling of immense satisfaction. I think those are the races that we search for, the holy grail of rowing.

Gregory on the podium in London

4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?

I don’t think I’ve ever lost a seat race, I certainly can’t remember losing one. I think my ability to adapt to those around me and mirror the way a crew mate moves has helped me out immeasurably in the sport. I’ve been seat racing every year for the last 15 years and I’ve learnt that seat racing is not about rowing your best, but making it as easy as you possibly can for your partner or crew on that day.

Getting the most out of others is something I love about rowing, it’s a challenge, a skill and something you work on almost in silence out there on the water. Bonds are formed based on movement, feeling and timing. You can’t always explain when or why things work but it’s there. I think all too often athletes and coaches over complicate things, talk too much and over analyse. The best, most enjoyable crews I’ve been in haven’t involved much talking, just a couple of minutes here and there!

5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?

I think an important piece advice for young rowers is to know that not everything has to go right straight away. Disappointments or ‘failures’ will happen, are inevitable and are essential for your development as a more complete athlete. Not everything will go your way straight away but with consistent training and a strong, steady will to succeed you will eventually reach your goals!

Date Of Birth: 11th Mar 1984 (32 Years Old)

Hometown: Wormington

Club: Leander Club

Boat: Men’s Squad

Coach: Jürgen Grobler

Learnt to Row: Evesham Rowing Club with GBRT Start Programme

Original Club(s): Evesham Rowing Club



Original Coach(es): Mark Earnshaw