Matt Brigham’s journey from University of Leeds Boat Club to Olympic trials

What happened in between was a move to Leeds, or more specifically, the decision to join the University of Leeds Boat Club.

“I was a swimmer when I was at school but I’d done it for so long I wanted to try something new when I got to uni’,” begins Brigham, who stands well over six feet tall.

“I certainly had the height advantage. People had said you’re tall enough to give it a go. I liked the fact rowing was a tough sport, but rewarding at the same time so I sought out the rowing team when I arrived at the University of Leeds.”

Brigham certainly had the will; what he lacked was any clue about rowing, specifically how technically demanding it is.

“I had the aerobic base from swimming, so that helped straight away on the rowing machine,” says Brigham, who hails from Peterborough.

“But on the water I was a complete novice and had to learn from the very beginning.”

He learned quickly, initially as part of the men’s eight where he was able to ‘fade’ into the pack and learn the sport knowing any mistakes could be salvaged by a more experienced team-mate.

Staying in the bigger boat was an attractive option but, if he wanted to progress, Brigham had to go it alone.

“I found the GB Start programme online, you just had to be tall and not very old,” he says of his introduction to single sculling. “I applied, got tested at York and the coach there was pleased enough with the scores that he accepted me onto the programme.”

Brigham has been involved with GB Rowing for the last year, making enough progress to earn an invite to the Olympic rowing trials at Caversham Lake in Berkshire today and tomorrow, when the GB squad for Tokyo will be finalised.

“I’ve not really been targeting Tokyo, I was thinking more about Paris,” says Brigham, who studies medicine and will be competing against full-time, funded athletes over the next 48 hours.

“There’s only four or five of us not on the team and seven spots available for scullers so I’ll go all out for it. Just by getting invited there’s a chance. I won’t be a favourite, but I had a good upset last summer.”

That last line refers to a stunning victory at the Henley Regatta, a gathering of the great and the good of world rowing.

Present that day was Mahe Drysdale, the veteran New Zealander who won gold in the single sculls at the London and Rio Olympics. In the same boats, in the same set-up of a one-on-one race, 22-year-old relative novice Brigham defeated world-famous Drysdale.

“Henley is a unique set-up, side by side, one v one, so it was nice to beat him,” recalls Brigham, happily. “He went off straight away because he had another race to prepare for but he sought me out afterwards to congratulate me.

“It gives me confidence.”

Eighty rowers are in action at the trials over the next two days, with seats on the 10 boats GB qualified for the Olympics at last year’s world championships, up for grabs. Richmond’s Zoe Lee, 34, a silver medallist in the women’s eight at Rio, is looking for a spot in the same boat for Tokyo while Jess Leyden, 25, of Todmorden and Georgina Brayshaw,26, of Leeds are hoping to represent Britain in the women’s single sculls.