Matt Edge

Nationality

GBR

Height

1.9m

School/High School

Durham Johnston Comprehensive

Club

CUBC

Undergraduate/Graduate

Graduate

Previous University

University of Cambridge

Undergraduate course

Natural Sciences

Graduate course

PhD in Chemistry

What is your Cambridge College?

St Catharine’s

Why are you studying your course?

To gain a research background in chemical informatics.

Year you first started rowing?

2012

First rowing club?

Durham Amateur Rowing Club

Why/How did you get into rowing?

Tried a taster course at DUBC and was hooked.

Name of first rowing coach?

Mike Rowe

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

Hard to say but I’d probably have the best time in an eight mixed with people I’ve rowed with personally over the last 3 years at the club.

Who is your rowing idol?

Sir Steve Redgrave

How do you balance rowing and academic life?

With great difficulty.

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

Winning the Lightweight Boat Race as President on my third time of trying.

Have you raced in the Boat Race before? If yes, when?

3 Lightweight Boat Races (20-22).

Have you ever been at school/ university/on a team with anyone at ‘the other place’?

No

Your favourite race so far?

BUCS Champ Lwt 2- A final – 2 lengths down at the 1k, 1s down at 150, won 9s clear of the field.

What is the best place you have ever rowed?

Costa del Ely on a crisp winter’s day.

Where would be your dream place to row?

Barnes Bridge approx. 5 lengths up on Oxford.

What is your favourite sports quote?

“It’s not about who goes the fastest, it’s about who gets there first.” – Nick Acock

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

Being part of such an amazing club with storied history and great people.

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

Winning U23 GB trials and showing myself that I can in fact compete with the best of them.

What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?

Not noticing the guano that had landed on the back of my kit during an outing.

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

Yeah rowing, like with the oars and boats and stuff.

What is your favourite movie about sports? Why?

The Social Network. It was funny that Harvard lost at Henley.

How does being an athlete make you a better person?

You learn to appreciate the small things like a warm shower or a lie in.

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

A good question but honestly, I’ve no idea.

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

I’m very driven and competitive which serves to get the most out of me as an athlete.

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 think it’s very sad that I go to bed so early every day.