University of Bath Rowing Club’s Becky Wilde will compete at Paris 2024 after securing a women’s double scull space for Team GB at the Olympic Qualifying Regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland. Wilde, in her first full season with the senior GB Rowing Team, and partner Mathilda Hodgkins Byrne needed a top-two slot in the final and achieved that, finishing runners-up to Czechia. Wilde was a swimmer when she first arrived at the University of Bath in 2017 to study Sport and Social Sciences before transitioning to rowing. Here Becky tells us about her Olympic dreams.
Has the Olympics always been an objective for you and for how long have you been training?
I’ve dreamed of going to the Olympics since I was 6 years old. I remember watching Athens 2004 and being in awe of the likes of Kelly Holmes; the dream started then. I swam for 10 years at a national and international level, before switching to rowing when I was 19. It’s taken years of hard work and commitment; I’ve finally achieved the dream.
Which rowing events do you specialise in? And are you used to working in partnership with other athletes?
I am a sculler and will be rowing in Paris in the double sculls (sculling is with two oars). We train a lot in singles over the winter before going into larger boats in the summer season, so I’m very used to rowing with other athletes. Last year I won Henley Royal Regatta as a last minute sub in the British women’s quad, which has been the highlight of my career until now.
Why was rowing your choice of sport?
I have always loved water; I was a water baby whilst growing up, which why I chose swimming. Rowing always appealed to me as a ‘back up’plan after swimming, and my PE teacher said I should try it because of my height.
During London 2012 the talent identification programme World Class Start was spoken about a lot – this stuck with me, and five years later I decided to switch from in the water to on it when I tested out for the programme at Bath. The combination of physicality alongside a certain amount of elegance had me falling in love straight away.
What qualities do you need to be a successful rower?
Rowing truly rewards those who work hard. The day in day out grind can be brutal, but also so rewarding. You have to be mentally tough, physically robust and prepared to sacrifice so much.
Who are your sporting heroes?
Coming from a sporty family I was exposed to so much sport growing up, and so there are almost too many to count. Kelly Holmes, Rebecca Adlington, Michael Phelps, Sam Warburton and Katherine Grainger all come to mind.
What did you study at the University of Bath and what was your experience like there?
I studied Sport and Social Science, which is now called Sports Coaching and Management. I loved Bath and enjoyed every minute I spent there. The university was really accommodating to me as a student athlete and allowed me to make the most of my academics and sport. The facilities are also almost second to none, which made such a difference.
At what point in the Olympics does the rowing happen and over what period does it run?
Rowing starts on day one of the Games (27 July) and runs until day eight (3 August).
How is your training preparing you for the Olympics?
Training is going really well. We are currently in the middle of a hard training block in Caversham, Reading, where the British team is based. We soon head to Varese for a month -long training camp, our last chance to get some hard miles in before Paris. Each day we gain more confidence and we are really excited for what’s to come.