Tom Lynch

Nationality

CAN/IRE

Height

2m

School/High School

Mulgrave

Club

CUBC

Undergraduate/Graduate

Graduate

Previous University

UBC

Undergraduate course

Mechanical Engineering

Graduate course

PhD in Engineering

What is your Cambridge College?

Hughes Hall

Why are you studying your course?

It’s a challenging project with exciting clinical and commercial applications.

Year you first started rowing?

2015

First rowing club?

Burnaby Lake

Why/How did you get into rowing?

To do something other than weightlifting, and for the team aspect of the sport.

Name of first rowing coach?

Mike Pearce

Who is your rowing idol?

Tom George

How do you balance rowing and academic life?

Eat Tesco meal deals at my desk.

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

Would love to meet the guys from the Canadian men’s 8+ from Beijing 2008.

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

I started seriously rowing at UBC. Going to Marlow and Henley in my first year was pretty awesome, and then winning Canadian University championships in 2019.

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

I raced in Goldie last year.

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

No

Your favourite race so far?

I really enjoyed racing the Dutch U23 boat last year, as I got to sub into the Blue Boat for that race.

What is the best place you have ever rowed?

Sarnen, Switzerland last year. See my Instagram!

Where would be your dream place to row?

Honestly the only thing that could top Sarnen may be Lucerne, but I’m not even sure about that.

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

Maybe more ‘despite’ rowing – but getting the grades to get into Cambridge (and then CUBC) was a pretty big achievement for me.

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

My sense of competitiveness, and the team atmospheres that I’ve been lucky to be a part of.

What has been your most embarrassing/funny rowing moment?

Going 6:00.8 and 6:00.1 on two 2k attempts in two weeks.

What is your favourite sports quote? “Close your eyes and pull like a dog” - O’Donovans

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

I’d describe it as an endurance sport which also requires a level of strength. Also, basically a pain contest.

What is your favourite movie about sports?

Goon (2011) comes to mind.

How does being an athlete make you a better person?

It certainly keeps me healthy.

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

I think you can learn something from any endeavour. From rowing, takeaways could be that hard work pays off, and that sometimes you have to go easier in the short-term to go further in the long-term.

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

Persistence and consistency.

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 non-rowing friends are often confused as to why I do rowing, and supportive when I achieve something in the sport. Generally, I can attend most social activities, but if I have to miss one they are pretty understanding.