Ollie Wynne-Griffith graduated from Yale in 2017 and is currently set to race 6-seat in the Great Britain M8+ at the Tokyo Olympic Games.
1. What inspired you to go to your first rowing practice; was there anything memorable about it?
Originally I took up rowing in the off-season as a way to keep fit for rugby. I'd always dreamt of playing professionally for Wales one day and I saw rowing as a good way to pack in the cardio over the summer months. Also, my great grandfather rowed at the 1932 LA Olympics, sitting in the 6 seat of the British men's 8 so there was a bit of family history pulling me towards the sport. In terms of the session, I was 13 years old and the only thing I can remember is getting pushed out in a single and capsizing over and over again. That was about as good as my sculling career got!
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?
The race that sticks with me most clearly was at the Sarasota World Champs in 2017. It was my senior World Champs debut and I'd been selected as the spare for the team that year straight out of college. On semi-finals day reigning Olympic champ Will Satch pulled out of the race 30 minutes before boating for their semi due to heart palpitations. Here I was, a fresh faced college kid who'd never raced at this level before, with Jürgen Grobler telling me to put on my racing threads as I would be stroking the GB men's 4- in an hour's time.
The guys had just enough time to run me through the race calls and starting sequence before we boated for the race. I sat there on the start line sweating bullets in the baking Florida sun praying that whatever rhythm came out the traps that day was good enough to get the guys into the final. Thankfully, it all went according to plan and I'm still here on the team now to tell the tale but I often look back on that day as a "sink or swim" moment in my international rowing career where I learned what it took to compete at the top level.
3. Best race/practice, worst race/practice?
My most euphoric race would have to be the 2015 Eastern Sprints final. It was the first big championship I'd ever won and the first that Yale had won since 1982. We led from wire to wire and I just remember knowing from stroke one that it was on. Nothing beats creating a slice of history.
The race that still haunts me to this day was my final race at high school. We lost to local rivals Abingdon by 3/4 of a length. Losing a Henley final is tough but even more so when you look at the calibre of guys we had on board. Still to this day, I simply cannot work out how we didn't get the job done with 3 members of our current GB men's Olympic 8 on board in that high school crew!
4. Best/Anything you've done in the sport no one knows about?
I believe that I am the only guy to ever give a live chicken as a secret Santa present at the annual GB rowing team Christmas lunch. I can confirm that the chicken is currently living a full and happy life in South Oxfordshire with its new owner.
5. Any/Most important advice for young rowers?
Live in the moment. The most important stroke you'll ever take is the one that you're currently on. It's really simple but harnessing that mindset will guarantee steady but marked improvement. Also, a steady diet of miles for breakfast, lunch and dinner works wonders. That stuff makes champions!
Hometown: Guildford, GBR
Club Affiliation: Leander Club
Began Rowing: 2007
Date of Birth: May 29,1994
Height: 198cm
High School: Radley College
Undergraduate Education: Yale University '17
Current Coach: Steve Trapmore
National Teams: Six. 2012 Junior, 2014 U23, 2016 U23, 2018 Senior, 2019 Senior, 2021 Olympic
International Results: Ollie has been part of the men’s eight for the 2018 and 2019 seasons, winning three World Cup silver medals, European silver, two World Championships bronze medals and World Cup gold.
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