Mark Hunter

Mark was selected in the lightweight men's double scull for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games and won the gold medal.

After a long career as a leading lightweight rower Mark found real success in 2007. He raced the season in the double with Zac Purchase medalling at each World Cup with two silvers and a bronze. The duo then capped a great season with a bronze at the 2007 World Championships in Munich. In the 2008 World Cup series he raced in the lightweight double winning three golds.

Mark started rowing aged 14 at Poplar Blackwall & District Rowing Club. He had played county football, swum and tried various martial arts before deciding to direct all his time and effort into rowing. The ambition to represent his country and compete at the Olympics took hold at an early age.

In 1994 Mark won the junior 16 single at the National Championships and gained a place in the GB–France U16 Team. The following year after winning the Fawley Cup at Henley Royal Regatta, he raced in the quadruple scull at the World Junior Championships.

Mark raced at the World Rowing U23 Championships from 1997 to 2000 in the open weight quad and double. In 2001 he decided to race as a lightweight and has established himself as one of the leading rowers in the class. He stroked the lightweight eight in 2001 at the World Championships in Lucerne finishing 5th.

In 2002 Mark qualified as a Waterman & Lighterman on the River Thames and is now a Freeman of the Thames. In the Spring of 2000, as an apprentice, he competed in the Millennium Coat and Badge double sculls race. Each double was made up of a Freeman and an Apprentice. With his finals partner John Dwan he won the event and they were presented with uniforms in February 2001 at a special dinner held at Fishmongers Hall.

In 2005 Mark finished 4th in the lightweight men's double scull at the Eton World Cup in May and 6th in the lightweight men's double scull at the Munich World Cup, June 2005. He and James Lindsay–Fynn went on to win the B Final in this Olympic class at the 2005 World Championships in Japan.

The 2006 World Cup then brought further success with a bronze in Poznan and Munich, finishing with 6th place in Lucerne.

Mark and James Lindsay–Fynn went on to compete at the 2006 World Championships at Eton in the lightweight double and were eighth overall.

Mark enjoys watching and playing all sports from football to racquet sports and socialising with friends outside rowing.

Mark is Lottery Funded through UK Sport.