2 mins
Charles Elwes
Nationality
GBR
Height
200 cm
School/high school/secondary school
Radley College
Club
OUBC
Undergrad/Graduate
Graduate
Previous university
Yale University
Undergraduate course
Political Science
Graduate course
Medical Ethics
Cambridge or Oxford college
Oriel
Why are you studying your course?
Because I am interested in genome sequencing.
What is the most interesting part of your course?
Interacting with my advisors and doing my research.
Year you first started rowing
2010
First rowing club
Radley College
Why/how did you get into rowing?
Because I was rubbish at all other sports.
Name of first rowing coach
John Gearing
Who would be your dream team eight to row with from everyone in the history of rowing?
Me, and 8 other Mike Gennaro’s, I am the cox.
Who is your rowing idol?
Steve Redgrave
How do you balance rowing and academic life?
Manage your time well.
What is your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far?
I rowed at Radley and then Yale. As a junior, 2013 world championships -GB 4+ -6th, 2014 world championships -GB 4+ -2nd, 2015 world championships -GB 4--2nd. As an U23, 2017 world championships -GB 4--2nd, 2018 world championships -GB 4--2nd, 2019 world championships -GB 4--1st. At Yale, 3x national champion (‘17, ‘18, ‘19); 4x Easter Sprints/Ivy League champion (‘16, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19); 4x Yale/Harvard race winner (‘16, ‘17, ‘18, ‘19). As a senior, 2021 European championships -GB 8+ -1st, 2021 world cup II -GB 8+ -1st, 2020 Tokyo Olympics -GB 8+ -bronze medal. 2019 Henley winner -Visitors Challenge Cup.
Have you raced in the Boat Race before? If yes, when?
No
Have you ever been at school/university/on a team with anyone at ‘the other place’?
Yes, rowed at school and in the Olympics with Ollie WG and Tom George.
Your favourite race so far?
Olympic final
What is the best place you have ever rowed?
Rio
What do you feel is your greatest achievement through rowing, be it accolades or something more personal?
Bronze medal at the Olympics.
Where would be your dream place to row?
Silvaretta lake
What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?
Catching a crab in front of 4000 people at the Harvard/Yale regatta.
Obviously, there are long hours and hard work, what inspires you to keep rowing?
Making my parents proud.
What is your favourite sports quote?
Shut up legs.
How would you describe the sport to a non-rower?
Just put the blade in and pull.
What is your favourite movie about sports? Why?
Chasing Mavericks, because I love surfing.
How does being an athlete make you a better person?
Focuses me in, makes me more reliant to stress, allows me to unwind from everyday stress.
Why do you think someone outside of the sport can relate to your career as an athlete?
Because anyone can be good at sport if they put their mind to it.
What are your strengths, as a person and as an athlete?
Reliant and very chilled out.
What do your friends think of your athletic success? How do you handle missing out on activities with friends because of your athletic schedule?
They tolerate it and make time for me when I am available.
Do you think you can win the Boat Race?
Yes
Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing?
Surfing, cooking, reading, meditating.