LEANDER’S Alex Partridge has been named as rowing’s Olympic Athlete of the Year for his achievements in 2009 as part of the world champion men’s four — his third world title in this boat category since 2005, writes Robert Treharne Jones.
Partridge, who celebrated his 29th birthday last week, received his British Olympic Association award during the GB Rowing team dinner held last weekend in London.
Following his disappointment at missing the 2004 Athens Olympics, when a punctured lung put him out of the boat for the duration of the competition, Partridge won his place back in the men’s four the following year and took two successive world titles in that boat class.
Another squad reshuffle in the preparation for Beijing saw him take his place in the men’s eight, coached by Mark Banks, which took Olympic silver behind Canada.
Last year he followed it up with victory at the World Championships in Poland, as a member of the crew which included Leander clubmates Matt Langridge and Rick Egington as well as Alex Gregory of Reading University.
As a member of the international men’s heavyweight squad Partridge commutes daily to the GB training lake in Caversham from his home in Park Road, Henley, but is still a regular visitor to the Leander clubhouse where he helps to inspire the younger athletes. GB Rowing team’s performance director David Tanner said: “Alex always gives 100 per cent to everything he does in rowing. He has a special place within the squad because of his dedication, his personality, his love of the sport and, of course, for his outstanding achievements.” Partridge received his award from another Leander Olympic champion, Ben Hunt-Davis, who won gold as a member of the GB men’s eight at Sydney 2000.
Published on 08 February 2010
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