Latest news with #GBRowing
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
World record 'pretty surreal' for Pritchard
Paralympic champion Ben Pritchard says it still feels "pretty surreal" after adding another impressive chapter to his story by powering to European gold and breaking the PR1 world record. The 33-year-old Welshman, from Mumbles, became the new PR1 European rowing champion in Plovdiv, Bulgaria in May. Advertisement That success came just nine months after he topped the podium at the Paris Paralympics. Despite feeling he was still deep in winter training, Pritchard produced a stunning performance in his first race since the Games. "It was pretty surreal," Pritchard told BBC Sport Wales. "The Europeans were really early in the season for us – I still felt I was in my winter block, doing long miles with no speed work. I was quite nervous going to the start line." He need not have been, as Pritchard powered through the field to claim the record-breaking victory. "I was going down the track thinking, 'this is pretty quick – I'm not sure how quick'," he said. Advertisement "It wasn't until I crossed the line, looked at the screen and saw the time that I realised it was a world record. That's pretty special. I definitely didn't expect it." A new chapter in Wales Pritchard has been training away from the GB squad this season, having made the decision to relocate back to Wales. He is now based on the River Tawe and training at David Lloyd Swansea, meaning he has stepped away from the centralised National Training Centre in Caversham, Reading. "I've taken a risk," he said. "But it's made a massive difference – I'm a happier person. Being closer to Wales, closer to family, it's where I belong. Advertisement "When I moved to Reading, I only went there for rowing. I never made it my home." While the move has paid off in terms of performance and personal wellbeing, it has not come without challenges. Training without the support of the full GB set-up has meant relying on volunteers and travelling long distances to get in the boat. "It's not easy," Pritchard added. "I rely on volunteers to help me in and out of the water. I've got a volunteer coach. I have to drive 45 minutes to training. "But I chose this path and because it's more difficult, I know I have to get the absolute most out of every session." Ben Pritchard produced a time of 8:40.38 to claim his first European title [Getty Images] Road to success Pritchard's road to the top of para-rowing is a story of determination shaped by adversity. In 2016, his life changed forever following a cycling crash that left him paralysed from the ribcage down. Advertisement His recovery began at the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, where he was introduced to adaptive sport – and to rowing. "When you're told you'll never walk again, it's really heavy. I was a 24-year-old bloke trying to absorb that," he said. "I kind of shut myself off to it. Then I went to one of the weekly sports sessions and it was cancelled. I balled with tears. That was the moment I really realised the impact of it." Sport quickly became a "saving grace" for Pritchard. "I've always lived my life through goals," he explained. "First it was, how do I get the best rehab possible? Then, how do I return to life, return to work, return to family life – and return to sport." The Los Angeles Paralympic Games will be held in August 2028 [Getty Images] Eyes on LA 2028 Now back on top of the European podium and with a world record to his name, Pritchard's sights are firmly set on this year's World Championships in China and the Los Angeles 2028 Paralympic Games. Advertisement "It would be really cool to be a three-time Paralympian – and hopefully a two-time champion," he said. "Fifteen per cent of the world's population have a disability and I think just one per cent make it to a Games – even fewer win a medal. "So to be able to go three times, that's pretty special." For Pritchard, rowing has been more than winning medals. It has helped him recover, find himself and stay focused. Now, as one of the best in the world, he is showing that tough times can push you forward - not hold you back.
BBC News
10-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Cambridge's Hudson on rowing with atrial fibrillation
Three years ago, James Hudson was rowing with a Great Britain team-mate when he looked down at his watch and saw his heart rate was very had a strange feeling in his chest and knew something was not there were doctors back at base who diagnosed Hudson with suspected atrial fibrillation - when sufferers experience an irregular and often rapid heart rhythm - a problem that was then confirmed at hospital."It was quite disconcerting; I struggled quite a lot with it to begin with. For the first year I had an episode once every three months," said the Cambridge University rower, who is from Suffolk."But over time I have learned to deal with it much better and it doesn't affect me at all."Symptoms include a heartbeat over 100 beats per minute, feeling chest pain or tightness and a shortage of elite athletes at this year's Boat Races are screened for underlying cardiac conditions and have an ECG – a test that records the heart's electrical activity - prior to extreme training. 'Not dangerous' "James's condition is different to atrial fibrillation you see in the normal population," said Dr Rob Howlett, GP and medical support for Cambridge University Boat Club."As an elite athlete he pushes his body to places most people don't go to."You see changes in the heart, adaptive changes for the exercise they are doing. You sometimes see odd things appear like atrial fibrillation."It's not dangerous, it doesn't cause collapse or sudden death. He's very safe. In fact, he gets it more at rest than when he is pushing himself."If they train less it will go away, but that obviously isn't an option."The 31-year-old wears a heart rate monitor for every session on the also does daily meditation to bring his stress levels down and has reduced his caffeine intake."If I have an episode, we have a pill in the pocket method," he said."I stop training and take a medication called Flecainide which slows the nerve impulses in the heart and reduces the heart to a normal level."I then try and relax as much as I can. I have a great medical team around me."Hudson is used to the demands of elite is on a break from training with GB Rowing and was a reserve in the men's eight at the Paris is studying for an MBA at Cambridge and is preparing for his first Boat Race against Oxford on Sunday."What I've realised is that atrial fibrillation is indiscriminate," he added."But it's great to be bringing awareness to the condition and understand I am not the only one out there dealing with it."It's good to show people that anything is possible – that you can prove you can go out there and achieve your dreams."
