Olympic champion Rory Gibbs announces retirement from GB Rowing team

Marlow’s Rory Gibbs (front row, second from the left) won Olympic gold with the GB Men’s Eight crew in Paris. Photo: Chloe Knott/Team GB

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Marlow's Olympic and two-time World Champion Rory Gibbs has announced he is retiring from the Great Britain Rowing team and international competition.

Gibbs, 30, was part of the dominant GB Men's Eight crew which powered its way to glory on the waters of The Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium at Paris 2024 last summer.

Gibbs and his crewmates led from the start of their final in Paris, but they were pushed to the line by the Netherlands who finished in second, more than a second behind the Brits.

The men’s eight crew of Gibbs, Sholto Carnegie, Morgan Bolding, Jacob Dawson, Charlie Elwes, Tom Digby, James Rudkin, Tom Ford and cox Harry Brightmore arrived at the Olympics as favourites in their event, and they lived up to that billing to take gold.

Gibbs’ journey in the sport began as an 18-year-old at Millfield School in 2012. The school's newly launched boat club inspired him to give the sport a try and he was a natural at it, going on to represent his school and then later Oxford Brooks University.

He made his senior GB Rowing team debut in 2019 in the men's four alongside Oli Cook, Matt Rossiter and Sholto Carnegie and together they captured a European gold that. The crew were double European champions in 2021 and went to the delayed Tokyo Olympics that year as a real medal hope, however, they finished just off the podium in fourth place.

Alongside Carnegie, Gibbs then transitioned to the men's eight under the guidance of coach Steve Trapmore.

An extraordinary run of results saw them win gold at 11 of the 12 international events they competed in, including the Paris Games last summer.

Off the water, Gibbs mentors aspiring rowers through his online coaching platform. He also has an at home, rowing focused fitness channel called 'Rowkouts’ on YouTube.

Announcing his decision on Sky Sports News this morning (Monday), Gibbs said: “So, I'm calling it a day now from international rowing and I'm moving on so, yeah, it's a big day for me.

“I competed at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021 and then in Paris this summer. It obviously went very well, and we got the gold medal in the men's eight and the Olympics is the pinnacle of rowing, and I just felt very content and at peace. I'm just sort of ready to move on and take on a new project or challenge. That's how

“That's how I felt but never say never. Maybe in a couple of years I'll get the itch as LA is going to be epic, but for now I'm just feeling really motivated to move on to the next project.”

Discussing his decision further with British Rowing, he added: “Rowing is a gruelling sport. It’s eat, sleep, row, repeat. Day in and day out, you’re hammering the nail in pursuit of the goal.

“The last 10 years have been tough but incredibly rewarding. I’m immensely grateful for the guidance, support, lessons, failures, successes, memories, and friendships I’ve gained along the way.”

Paul Stannard, GB Rowing Team Men’s Olympic Head Coach said: “Rory has achieved a great deal in just 10 years in the sport. Becoming a two-time Olympian culminating in Olympic Gold within this short timeframe is something to be truly proud of.

“Rory has great enthusiasm for sport and life in general and I am confident that he will pour this same energy into his business which I am sure will go from strength to strength in the coming years. We wish him all the best for the future.”