The Cheshire brother and sister who represented Great Britain in the Team GB Rowing Squad at the Olympics will be bringing home a Gold and a Bronze medal.
On the final day of the Olympic regatta at the Stade Nautique in Vaires-sur-Marne in Paris, Emily Ford was part of the women’s eight that scooped bronze.
Just 20 minutes later, her older brother Tom, 31, was part of the men’s eight to win gold.
The achievement made history, with Emily and Tom becoming the first brother and sister to win medals at the same Olympic Games for Team GB since 1908.
Rowing is in the blood for Emily and Tom from Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, who took up the sport after their schoolteacher told them to give it a go.
Their parents also encouraged them to try all sports and to do what they enjoy.
Emily, 29, said: “I tried rowing after watching London 2012 but I didn’t start as a natural.
“Mum and Dad didn’t push us into anything but they encouraged us – we tried all sports.”
Tom said: “They encouraged us to follow our dreams and to do what we enjoy. That happened to be rowing, and they’ve supported us ever since we decided that we wanted to do it full time and throughout university.
“Ultimately they’re the reason we were on that podium.”
The eight rowing medals won at Paris 2024 is one of the best performances seen by Team GB’s rowers. Impressively, 36 of the 42 competing athletes are returning home with a medal.
GB Rowing Team Director of Performance Louise Kingsley, Rowing Team Leader in Paris, said: “We’ve had some cracking races, some great finishes. Every crew has gone out there and given absolutely all they have to give, and then for us to finish on that Men’s eight – wow!
“This is right up at the top of where our expectations were – it’s been an incredible regatta.”
