07 Dec 2011
British Olympic Champion Andy Holmes dies
Two-time Olympic Champion, Andy Holmes of Great Britain has died at the age of 51. Holmes died after a short illness believed to be caused by leptospirosis, or Weil's disease, a waterborne infection from the urine of infected animals.
Holmes took up rowing at the age of 12 and at 19 was part of the winning eight – the Thames Challenge Cup – at the Henley Royal Regatta. He made the British national team for the first time as a 21-year-old racing at the World Rowing Championships in the men’s coxed four.
After spending two years in the British eight, Holmes, now one of Great Britain’s top rowers, moved back into the coxed four. On Lake Casitas, at the 1984 Olympic Games, Holmes’s coxed four crossed the line in first place. They had won Great Britain’s first Olympic rowing gold in 36 years. In the boat was Steven Redgrave winning his first of five Olympic golds. The coxed four, which also included Martin Cross, Richard Budgett and coxswain Adrian Ellison, is considered to be the boat that was the start of a resurgence in British rowing.
The 1984 gold medal was also the start of a winning streak for Holmes that saw him move to the pair and coxed pair with Redgrave. They went on to win at the 1986 and 1987 World Rowing Championships. Holmes finished off his competitive rowing career with a second Olympic gold at the 1988 Seoul Olympics, also with Redgrave, in the pair.
In a tribute to Holmes, GB Rowing’s performance director, David Tanner told GB Rowing News, “His medals were part of a renaissance for the sport in the UK and provided foundations on which future generations have built”.
A couple of years after the Seoul Olympics Holmes completely left the sport of rowing for many years. Good friend Martin Cross describes Holmes in his book, ‘Olympic Obsession’: “His Olympic medals, photographs and other trophies went into a big suitcase in the attic,” writes Cross. “His daughter Amy (then 8 years old), had seen a picture of him in a Penguin book of the Olympics and recognised that she had a famous daddy… (Holmes) took his medals out of the suitcase and put them on display.”
Holmes returned to rowing when he was persuaded to coach by some friends. Amy also started to row.
Holmes is survived by his five children, the youngest one month old, and his partner.
Rowing One link here.
The World Rowing team values feedback.