British athlete becomes first Olympian to win medal in both male and female events
A British athlete competing at Paris 2024 has made history by becoming the first Olympian to win medals in both men's and women's races.
Henry Fieldman, from London, first represented Britain at the Olympics in Tokyo, where he helped the men’s eight rowing team secure a bronze medal from his position in the coxswain’s seat.
In case you're not caught up on your rowing lingo, the coxswain is the member of the team who steers the boat in the water, facing towards the team while they do the rowing.
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Fieldman already had a strong track record of representing his country, having won two World Championship titles and two European titles before appearing in Tokyo, and it was this success that helped him make history this year.
You see, in 2017 World Rowing changed its rules to allow the coxswain in a rowing team to be a member of either sex.
With the new rule in place, Fieldman was able to take on the job for the women's eight at Paris 2024.
He helped the team qualify for the Olympics by coming in a fourth place at the 2023 World Championships, and during the Olympic Rowing Regatta in Paris over the weekend the team managed to up their game to secure a medal.
Team GB won a bronze at the event at at Vaires-sur-Marne, officially making Fieldman the first Olympian to win medals in both men’s and women’s events.
Fieldman played it cool when he was questioned about his position, according to The Telegraph, as he commented: "They only changed the rule in 2017 so someone was going to do it and it just happened to be me."
He went on to explain his decision for steering the women's team with a reference to the coxswain of the men's team, Harry Brightmore, who helped Team GB win a gold medal in Paris.
“Harry is a really talented cox,” Frieldman said: "The thinking was that he’d be a better fit for the men and I’d be better for the women.
“It’s been a real joy, the honor of my life. Each stroke on average is harder [for the women than the men] and I’ve been super-impressed by them. They are a really supportive group. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs and challenges.”
Heidi Long, a rower in the women's team, told Reuters Fieldman 'brings out the best' in the women's team.
"We could not do it without him,” she said.
“We’re a big group and he keeps us all on exactly the same thing - he takes away all the worry from what we have to do. We know that when we’re sitting at the start line, absolutely everything’s been taken care of."
Emily Brown