Three times World Champion and Olympic Gold medallist, Zac Purchase, joined the Jack Hunt rowing club at the Peterborough Rowing Club Rowing lake to share his expertise with our students over two sessions in May and June.  He helped lead a session including challenging students to stand up in the boat and switch places with fellow crew members,  resulting in much hilarity amongst the students and a soaking for Jack Brown and Jake Lawless!

Zac also persuaded some of the students to do a taxi exercise across the lake.  A passenger sat on the bow or stern of the boat increasing the risk for the boat capsizing or the students falling in.

The students also had the opportunity to ask Zac about his rowing career, training and competition success.  They also tried on his Olympic medals and Zac autographed things for students.

Mr Piper who runs the club said “The students were very motivated by his presence and had a lot of fun during the training session taking part in the different challenges set by Zac.  It was a fantastic opportunity for the students to find out more about what it takes to become an Olympic rower.  We are very grateful to Zac for sharing his experiences and for helping to make them such fun sessions.”

Zac first became a world champion in 2006 wining the lightweight men’s single sculls.  He then went on to win gold in Beijing 2008 with his partner Mark Hunter in the lightweight Double Sculls and they won silver at the London Olympics in 2012.  They also won gold at the World Championships in New Zealand in 2010.

Visit our gallery for pictures from these sessions…