How Olympic gold medallist took to skies and switched sports

MATT Langridge, originally from Cheshire, moved to Henley at the of 18 to join the Olympic rowing team training out of Leander with one goal — to get better every day.

That approach carried him through an elite international sporting career that saw him secure Olympic gold, silver and bronze in the men’s eights from 2008 to 2016.

After retiring from rowing, he qualified as a commercial pilot — a demanding path that requires discipline, focus, and an appetite for constant learning.

The crossover with elite sport is no accident as in both arenas, progress is structured, standards are high, and success comes from showing up prepared every day. Tennis entered the picture just over 20 months ago.

With work requiring frequent travel, Langridge wanted a sport that allowed flexibility and offered the competitiveness he is used to.

Picking up a racket for the first time in March of 2024 and joining Henley Tennis Club later that October, he threw himself into improvement with the same patience and drive that once powered a boat.

Within a year, he was being selected for official club matches for both the men’s singles and doubles fixtures.

When asked what makes the difference, Langridge’s answer was straightforward: “Patience, discipline and enjoyment. When a sport stops being enjoyable, it is unlikely that you’ll achieve your goals.”

The same thinking applies to how Langridge handles pressure — he avoids dwelling on mistakes, focuses on the next point and treats setbacks as opportunities to learn rather than failures.

At the centre of his success is determination, discipline and perspective. Clear goals are important, but so is valuing the process of getting there. It’s an approach that has taken him from Olympic-level rowing to a career as a commercial pilot, and now into competitive club tennis in less than two years.