Tom Sharrock

Nationality

GBR

Height

1.97m

School/High School

Comberton Village College

Club

OUBC

Undergraduate/Graduate

Undergraduate

Undergraduate course

Engineering

What is your Oxford College?

Magdalen

Why are you studying your course?

I want to be able to have an effect on the world with my work and being an engineer is the best way to do it.

What is the most interesting part of your course?

Being able to apply theory to practical situations and develop ideas.

Year you first started rowing?

2016

First rowing club

Cantabrigian Rowing Club

Why/How did you get into rowing?

I joined the indoor rowing club at my secondary school and discovered I enjoyed it, so I joined a local club in Cambridge and gradually grew into it from there.

Name of first rowing coach?

Oli Fraser

How do you balance rowing and academic life?

With difficulty – a lot of social sacrifices and organisation. I don’t really have any free personal time during term time.

Who is your rowing idol?

Tobias Schroder

Who would be your dream team eight to row with from everyone in the history of rowing?

Oxford Blue Boat 2022

What’s your rowing history, and what has been your biggest achievement so far?

Being part of the victorious 2022 squad.

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’?

No, but I did row out of Isle of Ely Rowing Club for 18 months which is opposite the Cambridge boat house, so I would be training on the same water at the same time with them.

Your favourite race so far?

Imperial fixture last year

What is the best place you have ever rowed?

Cleveland Lakes whilst filming The Boys in the Boat.

Obviously, it’s long hours and hard work – what inspires you to keep rowing?

I love the challenge, I love being really fit, I love being part of something as prestigious and exciting as the Boat Race.

What do you feel is your greatest achievement through rowing, be it accolades or something more?

Just being able to row at this volume at this university is a massive achievement for me.

What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?

At Peterborough regatta 2021 I entered the open men’s quad category with 3 other girls my age and we managed to come second out of 14 which was entertaining.

What is your favourite sports quote?

“Always go sub-max” – Jimbo Forward

How would you describe the sport to a non-rower?

The most over analysed and complicated horizontal squat jump possible.

How does being an athlete make you a better person?

My efficiency, mood, energy, health, self-discipline, and enjoyment of nonrowing things is greatly increased.

Why do you think someone outside of the sport can relate to your career as an athlete so far?

Anyone who has to sacrifice a lot and be very organised to achieve something they really want can relate.

What are your strengths, as a person and as an athlete?

I think I’m a very sociable and consistent person which helps boats come together as crews. I’m also open to change if someone says what I’m doing is wrong.

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 are very supportive in the most part, I just have to remind myself why I’m missing stuff in those scenarios and that justifies it for me.

Any hobbies, other interests outside rowing?

I enjoy playing music and used to be in a band.