Matlock rower Oli Wilkes revealed he nearly quit the sport 18 months before winning Olympic bronze.

Wilkes joined forces with Freddie Davidson, Matt Aldridge and David Ambler to reach the podium in the men’s four event. 

The 29-year-old was a non-travelling reserve for the Tokyo Olympics three years ago and having earned selection for the main squad, caught Covid in 2022 and lost his crew seat. Now he is an Olympic medallist.

“It’s been a long time coming and it hasn’t been a smooth ride,” said Wilkes.

“A couple of years out from the Olympics, it wasn’t looking good for me. I was wondering whether I was going to carry on in the sport.

“I managed to get in and the rest is history and I’m so proud and pleased to have been part of this crew. We’ve been through thick and thin together. Last year was a dream and this year, more challenging but we stuck together and that is what friendship is made of.

“It’s all been a bonus, since I’ve got on the team really. I’m immensely proud and it means a lot.”

Great Britain’s unbeaten run in the men’s four made legends of Steve Redgrave, Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell, spanning five successive golds from Sydney 2000 to Rio 2016.

The run ended in ugly fashion in Tokyo after a high-profile steering error saw GB come fourth.

This is a totally new crew who have rowed without the burden of history and picked up a succession of major titles, earning plaudits for their smooth, technical style.

Davidson has been the constant in the stroke seat, setting the beat for back-to-back world crowns and a three-peat at the European Championships.

Aldridge, who missed the Worlds in 2022 due to Covid, has provided power in the middle of the boat along with Ambler, while Wilkes has made the bow seat his own since 2023. 

“I was a couple of weeks away (from quitting rowing),” said Wilkes. “I hadn’t planned what I was going to do instead but I knew I had given my all and it was make or break.

“When I did get the opportunity, I just had to grab it with both hands and run with it.”
The British crew got a sense of the challenge facing them in the heats when New Zealand beat them by more than two seconds.

They made a measured start and were in sixth and last place through the first 500 metres, but a strong middle kilometre saw them scythe through the field and into a medal position. 

They crossed the line a full 1.2 seconds ahead of Italy with a brilliant American crew running away with gold and New Zealand taking silver. 

“It’s crazy to win an Olympic medal,” said Wilkes. “I couldn’t have envisaged it at one point, I thought at one point.”
 

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