3 mins
Angus Groom
Nationality
GBR
Height
195cm
School/high school/secondary school
RGS Guildford
Club
OUBC
Undergraduate/graduate
Graduate
Previous university
Durham University; Bristol University
Undergraduate course
BSc Natural Sciences (Durham)
Graduate course
DPhil in Medical Sciences (Oxford); MSC in Stem Cells and Regeneration (Bristol)
Oxford college
St Catherine’s
Why are you studying your course?
Because I want to find out information that has never been discovered before.
What is the most interesting part of your course?
The variation of day-to-day activity involving performing practical experiments, planning experiments, and analysis.
Year you first started rowing
2007
Why/how did you get into rowing?
I was playing a lot of rugby and swimming and wanted to try something new. My dad used to row back in the 80s but stopped when he had our family. He suggested that we try it together as I was always tall, and it was a great activity to do as father and son.
First rowing club
Walton RC
Name of first rowing coach
Nick de Cata
Who is your rowing idol?
Katherine Grainger
How do you balance rowing and academic life?
With difficulty but being organised definitely helps.
Who would be your dream team eight to row with from everyone in the history of rowing?
The Great 8 that raced at The Head Of The Charles a few years ago.
What is the best place you have ever rowed?
Silvretta, Austria -a lake up at 2000+ metres surrounded by mountains.
Where would be your dream place to row?
I’ve always wanted to row on Karapiro (NZ).
What is your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far?
Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games silver medal M4x; Rio 2016 Olympic Games 5th place; GB rowing senior team 2014-2021. Senior world championships 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019. European championships (bronze M4x 2019), world cup regatta gold (x2), silver (x1), bronze (x1). U23 championships 2014 (bronze M2x), 2013, 2012. Junior champs 2010, GB vs France J16 match 2008. HRR wins 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019.
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’?
I used to live with Holly Hill (CUWBC BB ‘15, ‘17) and we are still very good friends!
Your favourite race so far?
Tokyo 2020 Olympic final -it was my last international race and our best race as a crew.
Obviously, there are long hours and hard work, what inspires you to keep rowing?
Having fun with the boys.
What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?
Capsizing with 100m to go of National Schools 2009 Ch1x final.
What is your favourite sports quote?
More is more.
What do you feel is your greatest achievement through rowing, be it accolades or something more personal?
Olympic silver medal. We thought we could only win a bronze medal so winning silver felt like a gold medal to us.
How does being an athlete make you a better person?
Teaches you to work effectively as a team and forces you to develop good communication skills.
How would you describe the sport to a non-rower?
Large humans in Lycra sitting down going backwards very quickly.
What is your favourite movie about sports? Why?
Invictus -I’m a massive rugby fan.
Why do you think someone outside of the sport can relate to your career as an athlete?
I try and find similarities between sport and other facets of life.
What are your strengths, as a person and as an athlete?
I think that I can inspire confidence in my crew and hopefully my crew can rely on me to give 100%.
What do your friends think of your athletic success? How do you handle missing out on activities with friends because of your athletic schedule?
My friends are proud of what I have achieved, but it is hard to miss out on hanging out with them. I am so used to it after so long that I must pick my moments when I can spend time with them and enjoy those moments the most.
Do you think you can win the Boat Race? Why?
Yes. We have a great bunch of guys from all over the world who really make the rowing experience fun. We all row for fun and that is when people tend to perform their best.
Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing?
I love watching rugby and cycling.