Phelan Hill guides GB Men's 8 through Olympic nail biter

Great Britain men's eight took bronze medal as world champions Germany claimed gold in a thrilling final.

Constantine Louloudis, Alex Partridge, James Foad, Tom Ransley, Ric Egington, Mo Sbihi, Greg Searle, Matt Langridge & cox Phelan Hill finished in five minutes and 51.18 seconds.

Halfway they pulled ahead of Germany but ran out steam with Canada pipping them on the line for silver.

Living in Putney thirty three year old Phelan is a member of the Leander Club. Phelan started coxing at Bedford School in 1995 to help some friends who were in need of a cox. He enjoyed it so much he decided to carry on and cox both at his school and his local rowing club.

On leaving school he took time off to concentrate on his studies and his professional career. He graduated from the University of Leicester in 2001 with a degree in Law, moving to York in 2002 to attend Law school before moving to London to work. That year he took up rowing again, joining London Rowing Club in Putney. In his first season there, he competed in the 2002 Commonwealth Championships winning gold in the lightweight eight for England. Since then Phelan has been an active member of London Rowing Club, winning Henley Royal Regatta and winning gold again in the 2006 Commonwealth Championships for England.

2007 was Phelan's first year in the GB senior men's sweep team. He came 4th in the coxed four at the World Championships in Munich and also won gold in the eight at the World Cup in Amsterdam in June 2007.

Phelan coxed the men's eight to a 5th place at the 2009 World Championships in Poznan, after the crew achieved a direct A-Final qualification from their heat by overhauling Australia on the last stroke. He had established his place in the boat during the 2009 World Cup series, winning bronze in Banyoles and Munich and 4th in Lucerne.

Phelan now works for HM Treasury, who are hugely supportive of his rowing career. When not rowing he enjoys improving his golf swing, travelling around the world and playing the didjeridoo.

Phelan is Lottery Funded through UK Sport.

August 3, 2012