Cheshire brother and sister Tom and Emily Ford will be competing for Great Britain in this year’s Olympic Games.
They have both been selected for the Team GB Rowing Squad for Paris 2024. The squad is made up of 42 rowers across ten boats.
Of the 23 women and 19 men competing, half are making their Olympic debut and the rest are returning Olympians. These include Olympic Champion Helen Glover, Tokyo 2020 silver medallist Tom Barras and Team GB’s only brother and sister, Tom and Emily.
Rowing is in the blood for the siblings from Holmes Chapel in Cheshire, with their two older twin brothers taking part in the sport after their schoolteacher told them to give it a go.
Emily, 29, went to watch them row at National Championships and National School Regattas where they won in a double together. It inspired Emily to take up the sport too.
Tom’s Olympic dream began when, as a child, Olympic champion rower Matt Langridge visited his school and showed the children his set of gold, silver and bronze medals.
Today they both row for Great Britain and are members of Leander Club in Henley-on-Thames, one of the oldest rowing clubs in the world.
They both made their Olympic debuts at Tokyo 2020, and Tom, 31, won bronze in the men’s eight. Since then, Emily and her team-mate Esme Booth have made history, becoming the first British women to qualify two boats for an Olympic Games at the same regatta.
© Credited Team GB
Tom told BBC North West Tonight that he wants to improve on his bronze medal from Tokyo.
He said: “Everything is bigger when it comes to the Olympics. There’s more buzz and more crowds which makes it special.”
Emily said they are very proud of each other and that it’s good that they can both support each other.
Mark England, Team GB’s Chef de Mission, said: “Team GB has an impressive Olympic tradition in rowing and I’m delighted to welcome the 42 rowers that have been selected for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
“The Olympic experience in this squad is huge and I have no doubt it will be an asset to the 21 rowers who will make their Olympic debut in Paris this summer.
“Team GB is also set to include more women than men in the team for a second successive Games.
“Our rowers have posted some outstanding results this season and I am sure the crews will relish the opportunity to showcase their talent in front of their friends, family, and Team GB fans as they race the Olympic course at the National Olympic Nautical Stadium of Île-de-France in Paris this July.”
Lousie Kinglsey, British Rowing Director of Performance, said: “The athletes, support staff and coaches have really pulled together to create a fantastic atmosphere, culture and training environment that has lead to impressive results on the water.
“We have selected a very strong team of athletes with a good mix of returning and first-time Olympians who I know are relishing the opportunity to go out there and write a unique chapter in the legacy of the GB Rowing Team.”
