Alex Partridge

Partridge started rowing at Monkton Combe School in 1996, thinking that it would be a good way to keep fit. He immediately enjoyed it and progressed rapidly, being selected for GB in the coxed pair in the World Junior Championships in 1998, in which he won a bronze medal.

The following year Partridge won silver in the four at the World Junior Championships in Plovdiv and in 2000, he stepped up to the GB U23 squad, winning gold with the coxed four in the World U23 Championships. The crew led from the first stroke and, despite a strong challenge from the Italians at half way, they raised their game to win gold by a length.

In 2001, Partridge made his mark at senior level. After combining with Christopher Martin, Henry Adams and Dan Ouseley to win silver in the four at the World U23 Championships the quartet then gained selection for the coxed four at the senior World Championships in Lucerne. There they reached the final and produced an outstanding final 500m to row through the field and snatch the bronze medal on the line.

In 2002, Partridge raced in the eight, finishing sixth at the World Championships. The following year the eight improved throughout the season and showed their class at the World Championships in Milan by qualifying for the final and the Athens Olympics by taking second place in their semi final, splitting the 2002 silver and bronze medallists. In the final they raced in a leading pack of three, finishing with a very creditable bronze medal.

Partridge had a very public and frustrating season in 2004, winning the GB Rowing Senior Trials in the pair with Andrew Triggs Hodge and gaining a place in the men's four with Pinsent, Cracknell and Williams. However, following the World Cup in Lucerne he was ill and had to withdraw from the Olympic four that went on to win gold in Athens 2004 Olympic Games.

After Athens Partridge regained his place in the four, this time with Reed, Hodge and Williams and had an unbroken run of wins until mid 2007, including winning Championship gold in 2005 and 2006. In 2007, they were disappointed to finish fourth at the Worlds.

He studied technology management at Oxford Brookes University and in his spare time enjoys climbing, surfing, golf and watching all other top-level sports. He is currently studying Italian part–time.

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Last Updated September 2009