Luke Robinson

Club OUBC

Year of Birth 1999

Hometown Poole

Nationality British

College Trinity

Undergrad/Graduate Undergraduate

Year 4th

What are you studying? Engineering Science

What is the most interesting part of your course? Do you have any professional or academic plans after? The most interesting part so far has been my fourth year project in which I am creating a robot to autonomously map out indoor floor plans. As for what I will be up to next year, it’s all still a bit up in the air.

Future ambitions? To be honest I don’t really have any strong ambitions for my future, I’m kind of just seeing where life takes me.

How do you balance rowing and academic life? I have to timetable quite a lot to keep on top of both things. It’s also important to make sure that sleep doesn’t take a hit when you’re trying to fit everything in. At the end of the day, it’s not too bad as long as you keep doing enough work and enough training each day to keep on top of things.

When did you start rowing, and why? I started at the end of 2012. I had just moved to a new school and wasn’t such a fan of football so wanted to give something new a try. I’ve also grown up around the sea so I’ve always been a fan of water-sports.

What was your first club? Winchester College.

What is your favourite part of rowing for Oxford? I enjoy being able to train and compete at a high level. You always get to push yourself and row in quick combinations. We also have a good balance of focus and intensity as well as having fun and being able to spend a few hours every afternoon with some of your best mates.

What’s your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far? At school I mainly targeted the National Schools Regatta and Henley. My club wasn’t the strongest but I picked up a few medals along the way. I also trialled for the GB junior squad in my last two years at school, competing in the Coupe de la Jeunesse and then in the eight at junior worlds. At uni I competed in the Isis vs Goldie race in 2018 and 2019 and was going to compete a third time in 2020. I also won the coxless four category at fours head last year.

Have you raced in the Boat Race before? If yes, when? Yes last three years in isis.

Your favourite race so far? Trial eights 2018-2019 season.

Do you have any race day habits or superstitions? I always do the same warm up routine before every race and erg test which helps me to get focused. Apart from that I don’t have anything specific apart from maybe some visualisation leading up to the race.

Your sporting idol? Eliud Kipchoge (what he did last year was very impressive).

If you could have any sportsperson in your crew, who would it be? Tyler Hamilton.

What gets you through a tough session? Do you have a mantra, rituals? I try to separate myself from the discomfort I am experiencing. You can never ignore the burning of lactic acid but if you accept it and embrace it, you find that you can go further.

Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing? Basically anything to do with the sea (sailing, windsurfing, going to the beach...). I also quite enjoy cooking.

How do you motivate yourself and your teammates, especially with Covid restrictions? I think it’s important to keep connected through the lockdowns. Keeping the group chat active and so on.