David Ambler

Rower // Men's Squad
Club: Oxford Brookes University Boat Club
Hometown: Shepherds Bush, London

David Ambler profile image

David played rugby at school which he loved, but he found it more difficult to play as he got older because despite being tall, he didn’t have the physique for such a physical sport

His claim to fame is that he scored a try against England’s Ben Earl whilst at school. Whilst the try was ‘deeply unimpressive’, David will continue to mention it whenever he watches England play.

David started his rowing at Tideway Scullers School after seeing his sister row there for several years. Whilst a junior there, Alan Campbell, another Tideway Scullers member was competing internationally having come near the medals in Beijing. Seeing him at the club and following his international racing, David knew he wanted to go to the Olympics as well.

Alongside Alan Campbell, another key inspiration in David’s career is Bobby Thatcher. Having competed at the Olympics himself, Bobby coached David in his last years at school and helped instil a work ethic that has helped him develop from junior level through under 23s and to senior level. David studied in Boston Massachusetts before rowing in Oxford at Oxford Brookes and Oxford University.

David has strong memories of the home Olympics in London 2012. His family had tickets to a few different events, and he saw Beach Volleyball at Horse Guards Parade, Canoe Sprint at Dorney Lake and Greco Roman Wrestling at the Excel Arena. Although he thought wrestling was a bit odd, he found watching random sports at the Games amazing and seeing the crowd get behind a team regardless of nationality was something that stuck with him because it genuinely felt like a celebration of sport and the Games.

To compete at the Olympic Games is to compete at the pinnacle of rowing. It’s something David has always wanted to achieve since he first took up the sport aged 12. To David the Olympics is more than just the sporting performances and he thinks that sharing the experience with his parents, sister and friends would be very special as they have been so instrumental in supporting him throughout his rowing career.

David is extremely pround to have won the bronze medal with Oli Wilkes, Matt Aldridge and Freddie Davidson in the Men’s four at the 2024 Olympic Rowing Regatta in Paris.

Visit our 2024 Olympic Regatta hub

On The Water

GB Competitive Record

Year Event Result Boat
2024 Olympic Rowing Regatta
Paris, FRA
M4-
2024 World Rowing Cup II
Lucerne, SUI
M4-
2024 European Rowing Championships
Szeged, HUN
M4-
2024 World Rowing Cup I
Varese, ITA
M4-
2023 World Rowing Championships
Belgrade, SRB
M4-
2023 World Rowing Cup III
Lucerne, SUI
M4-
2023 World Rowing Cup II
Varese, ITA
M4-
2023 European Rowing Championships
Bled, SLO
M4-
2022 World Rowing Championships
Racice, CZE
M4-
2021 World Rowing Cup III
Sabaudia, ITA
M4-
2019 World Rowing Under 23 Championships
Sarasota-Bradenton, USA
BM4-
2018 World Rowing Under 23 Championships
Poznan, POL
BM4-
2017 World Rowing Under 23 Championships
Plovdiv, BUL
BM8+
2015 World Rowing Junior Championships
Rio de Janeiro, BRA
5 JM8+
Year:
2024
Event:
Olympic Rowing Regatta
Paris, FRA
Result:
Boat:
M4-
Year:
2024
Event:
World Rowing Cup II
Lucerne, SUI
Result:
Boat:
M4-
Year:
2024
Event:
European Rowing Championships
Szeged, HUN
Result:
Boat:
M4-
Year:
2024
Event:
World Rowing Cup I
Varese, ITA
Result:
Boat:
M4-
Year:
2023
Event:
World Rowing Championships
Belgrade, SRB
Result:
Boat:
M4-
Year:
2023
Event:
World Rowing Cup III
Lucerne, SUI
Result:
Boat:
M4-
Year:
2023
Event:
World Rowing Cup II
Varese, ITA
Result:
Boat:
M4-
Year:
2023
Event:
European Rowing Championships
Bled, SLO
Result:
Boat:
M4-
Year:
2022
Event:
World Rowing Championships
Racice, CZE
Result:
Boat:
M4-
Year:
2021
Event:
World Rowing Cup III
Sabaudia, ITA
Result:
Boat:
M4-
Year:
2019
Event:
World Rowing Under 23 Championships
Sarasota-Bradenton, USA
Result:
Boat:
BM4-
Year:
2018
Event:
World Rowing Under 23 Championships
Poznan, POL
Result:
Boat:
BM4-
Year:
2017
Event:
World Rowing Under 23 Championships
Plovdiv, BUL
Result:
Boat:
BM8+
Year:
2015
Event:
World Rowing Junior Championships
Rio de Janeiro, BRA
Result:
5
Boat:
JM8+