Andrew Triggs-Hodge: Olympic Champion
A Profile of the Olympic Gold Medallist and World Champion
Jan 3, 2009
Andrew Triggs-Hodge was born 3 March 1979 in Halton, Buckinghamshire. He attended Burnsall Primary School and afterwards Upper Wharfedale Scool in Threshfield
Hodge Begins his Rowing Career
He first took up the sport of rowing when studying Environmental Science at Staffordshire University. In his biography on the British Olympic Association website, it is stated that he started rowing so that he could improve his fitness and take part in a sport that was "more serious than rugby".
After graduating in 2000, he joined the prestigious Molesey Boat Club where he made great advancements in the sport and in 2001 was selected to represent Great Britain at the World U23 Championships in the coxed four event. He finished sixth.
International Success with Great Britain
After successfully trialling for the Great Britain senior squad, Hodge won his first 'senior vest' sitting in the four seat of the eight. The boat reached the final at the Senior World Championships eventually finishing sixth. The following year, Hodge was back in the eight which improved significantly during the season. At the World Championships in Milan, Italy the eight came second in the semi-final and achieved a very commendable bronze medal in the final.
Hodge began the 2004 season by winning the men's pairs event at the GB senior rowing trials with Alex Partridge. For the Athens Olympics he again competed in the men's eight and finished ninth.
Hodge and The Boat Race
In 2005, Andrew Triggs-Hodge returned to university, although this time at the infamous Oxford University where he studied for a postgraduate degree in Water Science, Policy and Management. He trialled as a member of the Oxford University Boat Club (OUBC) and was selected to represent the university in the annual Varsity rowing competition against arch-rivals Cambridge in what is widely known as 'The Boat Race.' He stroked the eight to victory in the 151st boat race, winning by two lengths.
Later the same year, Hodge again won the men's pairs trials, this time with Peter Reed. The pair was selected for Great Britain's top boat-the coxless four with Alex Partridge and Olympic Gold Medallist Steve Williams.
Success with the Coxless Four
Over the next two seasons, the Great British coxless four was the boat to beat-but no one did. The boat won both the 2005 and 2006 World Championships as well as all of the World Cup regattas during this period. The boat had an unbeaten run of 24 races.
During the 2007 season suffered problems and did not perform to expectations and in the build up to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, China the boat was reshuffled, with Tom James promoted to the coxless four with Alex Partridge moving to the eight. The boat was plagued with injury and illness in the months leading up to Beijing but Hodge stroked the four to a victory in the Olympic final.
Andrew Triggs-Hodge:
Height: 192cm
Weight: 97kg
Sources:
British Olympic Association
 |
