Toby Garbett

Twice a world champion, Toby returned to the GB rowing squad after taking a year off following the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, where he finished 7th in the men's pair with Rick Dunn. He raced in the men's pair with Marcus Bateman in the 2008 World Cup series.

Toby took up rowing at Pangbourne College, having been told that he would be physically suited to the sport, and while at school combined rowing with county level rugby and high level judo.

In 1994 he was selected for the Coupe de la Jeunesse team and stroked the eight to two gold medals on both days.

Toby joined Leander Club in 1996 and made the final of the Ladies Plate event at Henley Royal Regatta. At this point he began to train with the senior team and quickly made progress, resulting in selection for the 1997 GB men's eight. The boat went on to finish in a promising 4th place at the World Championships in Aiguebelette.

Having been selected for the coxed four in 1998 disaster struck three weeks before the World Championships when he developed a prolapsed disc, taking him out of training for four months. Having recovered from that injury he had a further setback as he was preparing for the 1999 season; he was diagnosed with glandular fever, which ruined any chance of him competing that year.

He bounced back in 2000, winning gold at the World Championships in the coxed four, and the following year he won his second World Championship, this time with the Olympic class coxless four, who proved themselves worthy successors to the Sydney Olympic champions. The crew won their heat in style and then produced an outstanding performance in the final to win the gold medal.

With one crew change this four continued together in 2002 and 2003, winning silver in both World Championships, narrowly missing out on gold.

In 2005 Toby took a break from training and rowing and got married but showed he was 'back in business' again by finishing 4th in the men's pair with Tom Solesbury at the 2006 GB Rowing Senior Trials in Belgium. The World Cup 2006 saw him take a 5th place in Munich and a 6th place in Lucerne.

He was also part of the British men's eight which finished 5th in the final of the 2006 World Championships at Eton.

When he isn't rowing, Toby works as a personal trainer and pilates instructor. He is also a keen golfer and enjoys home improvements, the cinema and, when he has enough energy left after training, going out with friends.

Toby is Lottery Funded through UK Sport.

More details can be found at www.tobygarbett.com