Harry Brightmore, Olympic champion cox, retires from GB Rowing Team
Olympic and two-time World and European champion cox Harry Brightmore is leaving the GB Rowing Team
Photo: Benedict Tufnell
In a statement made back after the Olympic Games in August on Instagram, Harry said: “It’s time to call it a day! All good things must come to an end, and this has been really good! It’s more of an ‘au revoir’ than a goodbye. Olympic champion forever! Next stop Oxford University Boat Club!”
Harry Brightmore grew up in Chester and attended King’s School, where he took up coxing in 2008. He made his Great Britain international debut in 2014, finishing fourth in a coxed four at the 2014 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
After being selected to join the GB Rowing Team senior squad in 2022, he coxed the men’s eight to back-to-back World Championship titles in 2022 and 2023 and European Championship titles in 2022 and 2024. At the Paris 2024 Olympic Rowing Regatta, Harry won gold in the Men’s eight in superb style, with an emotional celebration that will be remembered by many!
Harry’s first Olympic memory was watching Steve Trapmore win gold in the men’s eight at the Sydney 2000 Olympics, never thinking that almost quarter of a century later he would be being coached by Steve on his own Olympic gold medal winning journey.
With his passion and knowledge of rowing, Harry wants to continue to be involved with the sport, giving back his experiences and expertise to the rowing community. In June 2024, Oxford University BC appointed Harry as Assistant Coach for both their men’s and women’s programmes for the 2025 season.
Commenting on Harry’s GB Rowing Team career, Paul Stannard, Men’s Olympic Head Coach said: “Harry has been an excellent addition to the men’s team over the Paris Olympiad. The role of a cox at Caversham is a tricky one, blending in-the-boat coxing with on-the-bank coaching both at home and abroad. Harry has navigated the last three years well and has developed as a cox and coach under Steve Trapmore’s expert guidance. His passion and commitment to his crew are qualities that he will no doubt bring to his new role with Oxford University BC and I’m sure he will bring an extra facet to the role bearing in mind how important the coxes are in what is one of the world’s oldest and most famous sporting events. Everyone at Caversham wishes Harry well for the future and we look forward to following his future career with interest and would love to see him back on the towpath at Caversham in the future.”
Harry added: “It’s been the privilege of a lifetime to be a part of this team. I will cherish all of these memories for the rest of my life and I owe a great deal to those who helped me at Caversham.”
