Laurence Whiteley MBE
Rower // Para-Rowing Squad
Date of Birth: 29th Aug 1991 (33 years old)
Club: Tees Rowing Club
Height: 186.00
Hometown: Northallterton
Patience reaped massive rewards for Laurence Whiteley at Rio 2016 as he was crowned Paralympic Games champion, just a year after his long search for a rowing partner had finally paid off.
Laurence Whiteley has competed with distinction in the non-Paralympic class trunk-arms men’s single scull. Laurence finally made his international debut in the mixed double scull at the 2015 World Championships alongside newcomer Lauren Rowles.
They quickly formed an impressive partnership, qualifying the boat for Rio in their first regatta together before setting a new World Best time on their way to winning Paralympic gold 12 months later.
In 2017, Whiteley won silver with Rowles at the second World Cup regatta in Poznan, but missed out on a place at the World Rowing Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton due to injury to Rowles. After a season in the PR2 Single Sculls in 2018, Laurence and Lauren resumed their partnershipi n 2019, winning the World Championships that year, and the European Championships in 2021, before retaining their Paralympic title at the delayed Tokyo Olympic Games.
Laurence and Lauren Rowles were crowned as Paralympic champions at Rio 2016, just a year after first rowing together
On The Water
©Peter Spurrier/Intersport Images
GB Competitive Record
| Year | Event | Result | Boat |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Paralympic Games Tokyo, JPN |
PR2 Mix2x | |
| 2021 | European Rowing Championships Varese, ITA |
PR2 Mix2x | |
| 2019 | World Rowing Championships Linz Ottensheim, AUT |
PR2 Mix2x | |
| 2018 | World Rowing Championships Plovdiv, BUL |
4 | PR2 M1x |
| 2018 | World Rowing Cup II Linz Ottensheim, AUT |
PR2 M1x | |
| 2017 | World Rowing Cup II Poznan, POL |
PR2 Mix2x | |
| 2016 | Paralympic Games Regatta Rio de Janeiro, BRA |
TAMix2x | |
| 2015 | World Rowing Championships Aiguebelette, FRA |
TAMix2x |
- Year:
- 2020
- Event:
- Paralympic Games
Tokyo, JPN - Result:
- Boat:
- PR2 Mix2x
- Year:
- 2021
- Event:
- European Rowing Championships
Varese, ITA - Result:
- Boat:
- PR2 Mix2x
- Year:
- 2019
- Event:
- World Rowing Championships
Linz Ottensheim, AUT - Result:
- Boat:
- PR2 Mix2x
- Year:
- 2018
- Event:
- World Rowing Championships
Plovdiv, BUL - Result:
- 4
- Boat:
- PR2 M1x
- Year:
- 2018
- Event:
- World Rowing Cup II
Linz Ottensheim, AUT - Result:
- Boat:
- PR2 M1x
- Year:
- 2017
- Event:
- World Rowing Cup II
Poznan, POL - Result:
- Boat:
- PR2 Mix2x
- Year:
- 2016
- Event:
- Paralympic Games Regatta
Rio de Janeiro, BRA - Result:
- Boat:
- TAMix2x
- Year:
- 2015
- Event:
- World Rowing Championships
Aiguebelette, FRA - Result:
- Boat:
- TAMix2x
2016
2015
Rio 2016 Paralympiad: 2013 – 2016
Laurence and Lauren Rowles were once again selected in the trunk-arms mixed double scull for the 2016 season. Lauren’s A-level studies restricted them to just one international appearance before Rio but there was plenty of promise in their bronze and silver medals at the Gavirate International Regatta in Italy.
The hard work Laurence and Lauren put into training during the summer was clear to see on the Lagoa Rodridgo de Freitas as they set a new World Best time in their heat before storming to victory in the final to be crowned as Paralympic Champions.
Laurence first teamed up with rowing newcomer Lauren at the 2015 World Championships in Aiguebelette, where they quickly made history.
They only began training together in the summer after Lauren made the transition from athletics to rowing at the end of a year-long search by the GB Rowing Team para-rowing coaches for a trunk-arms mixed double scull partner for Laurence.
Despite their brief time together, Laurence and Lauren became the first GB crew to qualify for Rio 2016 as they won their repechage. They then went on to produce a fantastic performance in the final, winning silver as they finished just half-a-second behind Australia.
Laurence had started the season by winning double gold in the trunk-arms men’s single scull at the International Para-Rowing Regatta in Gavirate, repeating his achievement on his debut at the Varese International Regatta 12 months earlier.
Lauren Rowles and Laurence Whiteley after winning TAMix2x silver at the 2015 World Championships in Aiguebelette
Laurence Whiteley and Lauren Rowles won gold at the Rio 2016 Paralympic GamesLondon 2012 Olympiad: 2009 – 2012
At the age of 14, Laurence was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer. After his recovery, he wanted to get back into sport. Initially he pursued swimming and competed both nationally and internationally.
On reflection, he decided his disability and swimming were not the best fit. That led him into investigating rowing and in 2011 he joined Tees RC, where he was coached by Greg Beswick.
Laurence won the Home International Regatta in his first year of competition, then struck gold at both the British and European Indoor Rowing Championships in 2012 as well as the British National Championships.
More info...
Club: Tees Rowing Club
Boat: TA Mixed Double Scull
Role: Rower
Coaches: Tom Dyson, Nick Baker
Learnt to Row: Tees Rowing Club
Original Club(s): Tees Rowing Club
Original Coach(es): Greg Beswick