Matt Wells

Matt Wells is one of the most successful scullers in the GB Rowing squad, having won medals at junior, under-23 and senior level. After finishing fourth, though, at the World Championships how will he use his extensive experience to prepare for Beijing? He talked to TEAMTALK about the past, present and future.“We’re like chalk and cheese”, is Matt’s first comment on his relationship with fellow double–scull medallist Steve Rowbotham, with whom Matt won three World Cup medals this summer in the Siemens–backed double scull.

“We’ve been sculling together for three years now so we’re pretty close. But when we were first put together in the quad in 2005 we really didn’t get on. We were just too different, we have contrasting personalities.”

The duo have clearly learned to play to their respective strengths. “Steve is hugely competitive and pushes me all the time in training. He likes to know all the numbers and percentages before we race. I’m the opposite and prefer to see racing as different to training. Jurgen [Grobler, GB Rowing’s Head Coach for Men] calls it ‘leaving a bit in the pocket’, leaving a little something extra or special for race day.

“The result is that Steve pushes me hard in training but I push him a lot in racing. We’ve learnt to be open with each other; it’s challenging but I like to think it makes it more interesting.”

The process has paid dividends, with the duo establishing themselves as an international force in a highly competitive event. “We were certainly right in the mix at the last World Championships [held in at the end of August 2007 in Munich]”, admits Matt.

But the double finished fourth, having made a move with 250m to go in an attempt to take the ultimate prize – a gold medal. Matt is philosophical. “We took a risk and unfortunately it wasn’t our day. We’re looking at it as a good thing. This year is an Olympic year and coming fourth in Munich means we are reviewing every aspect of our training and racing, looking for improvement.”

Indeed Matt and Steve know a lot about bouncing back. “In 2005 we raced in the men’s quad with Matt Langridge and Alan Campbell. We came seventh at the 2005 World Championships. We were all very disappointed”. Alan subsequently moved into his single scull and Matt Langridge gave up sculling altogether to move to rowing. Each of the four athletes has since achieved considerable success in their separate ventures, including a bronze at the 2006 World Championships for Matt and Steve in the double scull.

There are some areas where, despite their disparate personalities Matt and Steve collide in their interests. The duo are passionate about their own piece of the sport, for instance:

“We’re both really passionate about sculling. I’ve sculled all the way through my career – I was the first ever British Junior Worlds sculling medallist – but I feel sculling can sometimes play second–best to rowing. In fact, Steve and Alan [Campbell] both agree with me on that. I think sculling is more skilful because there are two blades rather than one and you have to be more in tune with the boat. But then again rowers would say sculling is easier!”

The duo are also great rugby fans:

“We both follow rugby. Steve supports Gloucester and being from the North–East I support the Newcastle Falcons. We’ll be going together to the match when the two clubs play each other.”

So was this where Matt always saw himself?

“I think so, yes. I always wanted to do sport from a very early age. Well, not too early actually. Mum always tells people about one time when I was about five or six and I was found hiding under the benches at school on sports day because I didn’t want to do it! I did sport through school though. And now it’s turned full circle and I am lucky enough to do sport full–time. I even did sport science at both undergraduate and postgraduate level.”

And with that, the man who hid under benches to avoid sport as a small child returns to his gruelling schedule, determined to add an Olympic medal to his already substantial collection.