Harnessing Talent Athlete

Toby Garbett - Olympian / 2 x World Champion - Rowing

Biography:
Twice a World champion, Toby has returned to the GB rowing squad after taking a year off following the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where he finished seventh in the men's pair with Rick Dunn.

Toby took up rowing at Pangbourne College, having been told that he would be physically suited to the sport, and while at school combined rowing with county level rugby and high level judo. In 1994 he represented Great Britain at the Coupe de la Jeunesse team where he stroked the eight to two gold medals on both days.

Toby joined Leander Club in 1996 and made the final of the Ladies Plate event at Henley Royal Regatta. At this point he began to train with the senior team and quickly made progress, resulting in selection for the 1997 GB men's eight. The boat went on to finish in a promising fourth place at the World Championships in Aiguebelette.

Having been selected for the coxed four in 1998 disaster struck three weeks before the World Championships when he developed a prolapsed disc, taking him out of training for four months. Having recovered from that injury he had a further setback as he was preparing for the 1999 season; he was diagnosed with glandular fever, which ruined any chance of him competing that year.

He bounced back in 2000, winning gold at the World Championships in the coxed four, and the following year he won his second World Championship, this time with the Olympic class coxless four, who proved themselves worthy successors to the Sydney Olympic champions. The crew won their heat in style and then produced an outstanding performance in the final to win the gold medal.

With one crew change this four continued together in 2002 and 2003, winning silver in both World Championships, narrowly missing out on gold.

In 2005 Toby took a break from training and rowing, and set up his own personal training business. He then recommenced his rowing career along side his new business in 2006, and showed he was 'back in business' again by finishing fourth in the men's pair with Tom Solesbury at the 2006 GB Rowing Senior Trials in Belgium. The World Cup 2006 saw him take a 5th place in Munich and a 6th place in Lucerne. He was also part of the British men's eight which finished fifth in the final of the 2006 World Championships at Eton.

Click here to see Toby's Competitive History

Click here to see how Toby and DKH Legacy Trust are working together, and to find out about his 'giving back to sport' activities

Click here to visit Toby's Official Website