Sarah Winckless
Encyclopedia
Sarah Winckless is a former British rower
. She won a bronze medal in Double sculls with her partner Elise Laverick
at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games
, and was twice world champion, in 2005 and 2006.
Winckless began rowing while at Cambridge University, where she studied Natural Sciences at Fitzwilliam College. She made her debut for Great Britain in the women's eight at the World Championships in 1998 and finished eighth. She then transferred to sculling, finishing ninth in the double at the 2000 Olympic Games. She was in GB quadruple scull crews that narrowly missed out on the medals at the 2002 and 2003 World Championships, finishing fourth both times. She teamed up with Elise Laverick for the double scull from 2004 on, producing good results in the world cup season before taking Olympic bronze in the 2004 Games held in Athens. She returned to the quad for the 2005 and 2006 world championships, winning with Rebecca Romero
, Frances Houghton
and Katherine Grainger
in 2005 and Debbie Flood
, Houghton & Grainger in 2006. She was unable to compete in 2007, due to injury, but returned to the GB team for the 2008 Olympic Games, racing in the Women's eight.
She announced her retirement from rowing in April 2009
She has also been a campaigner for Huntington's Disease
charities, and was diagnosed with the disease in 1998
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
. She won a bronze medal in Double sculls with her partner Elise Laverick
Elise Laverick
Elise Mary Laverick is a British rower. She won bronze at the 2004 Summer Olympics in the double scull with Sarah Winckless, and again at the 2008 Summer Olympics with Anna Bebington...
at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, and was twice world champion, in 2005 and 2006.
Winckless began rowing while at Cambridge University, where she studied Natural Sciences at Fitzwilliam College. She made her debut for Great Britain in the women's eight at the World Championships in 1998 and finished eighth. She then transferred to sculling, finishing ninth in the double at the 2000 Olympic Games. She was in GB quadruple scull crews that narrowly missed out on the medals at the 2002 and 2003 World Championships, finishing fourth both times. She teamed up with Elise Laverick for the double scull from 2004 on, producing good results in the world cup season before taking Olympic bronze in the 2004 Games held in Athens. She returned to the quad for the 2005 and 2006 world championships, winning with Rebecca Romero
Rebecca Romero
Rebecca Jayne Romero MBE is an English sportsperson, a former World Champion and Olympic Games medallist at rowing, and a former World champion and reigning Olympic champion track cyclist.-Biography:...
, Frances Houghton
Frances Houghton
Frances Julia P. Houghton is an English female rower, noteworthy for winning Silver Medals in the Quadruple Sculls at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games....
and Katherine Grainger
Katherine Grainger
Katherine Grainger MBE is a Scottish rower.Her family moved to Netherley, Aberdeenshire and Katherine represents Edinburgh's St Andrew Boat Club in rowing events. She trained on the River Dee, which has the distinction of being the only river she has fallen into whilst rowing.She is a three time...
in 2005 and Debbie Flood
Debbie Flood
Deborah Kirsty "Debbie" Flood is an English female rower, noteworthy for winning Silver Medals in the Quadruple Sculls at both the 2004 and 2008 Olympic Games....
, Houghton & Grainger in 2006. She was unable to compete in 2007, due to injury, but returned to the GB team for the 2008 Olympic Games, racing in the Women's eight.
She announced her retirement from rowing in April 2009
She has also been a campaigner for Huntington's Disease
Huntington's disease
Huntington's disease, chorea, or disorder , is a neurodegenerative genetic disorder that affects muscle coordination and leads to cognitive decline and dementia. It typically becomes noticeable in middle age. HD is the most common genetic cause of abnormal involuntary writhing movements called chorea...
charities, and was diagnosed with the disease in 1998