Rebecca Romero MBE
Rebecca Romero’s motto in life is 'Live Your Dream' and this is exactly what the 28 year old star is doing. Not content with the silver medal in rowing at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Romero achieved her ambition of a Gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics – however this time in cycling. Romero is the first British athlete to compete in the summer Olympic Games in two different sports, and the first woman in history ever to win Olympic medals in two different sports.
At the age of 17, Rebecca decided to take up rowing at her local club. The combination of her natural talent, effort and determination allowed Romero to progress quickly and, after only 8 months in the sport, she was selected for the Great Britain team at the 1998 Junior World Championships. This was the start of a promising career, where she managed to pick up many titles, including the gold medal at the U23 World Championships.
However, the highlight of Romero’s rowing career came on her Olympic debut in Athens in 2004. Rebecca and her crew produced an outstanding performance to win Silver – just losing out to a far more experienced German crew. Romero’s newly found confidence showed through in her results in 2005, where she gained the title of Rowing World Champion and became the overall World Cup winner.
Despite all of her success, Rebecca retired from rowing and, shortly after, was approached by the British Cycling team who discovered she had world-class potential in yet another sport. After five months intense training, Romero took part in her first race and was crowned the 2006 British Cycling Champion.
However, Rebecca wanted to raise the bar further and prove her cycling talents on an international stage. Outstanding results in 2007 were improved upon in 2008, where she achieved Gold medals at the World Championships in both the individual and team pursuits. She took Gold in the 3000m individual pursuit at the 2008 Olympic Games, thereby fulfilling her dream. In January 2009, Rebecca was awarded an MBE in the Queens New Year Honours.
As GB Cycling coach, Dan Hunt said, “I’ve worked with elite female athletes for the last seven years and Rebecca is the most driven athlete I have ever met - male or female!”
Rebecca retired from professional cycling in 2011.
www.rebeccaromero.co.uk
For enquiries contact Octagon
Personal Details
Date of Birth: 24th January, 1980
Place of Birth: Twickenham
Lives: High Wycombe
Height: 183 cm
Honours and achievements
Cycling:
2008: Gold medal at the Olympic Games in the 3km individual pursuit, Gold medal at the World Track Championships in individual pursuit, Gold medal at the World Track Championships in team pursuit
2007: Silver medal at the World Track Championships in 5km individual pursuit, First place at the British Championship 3km Individual Pursuit
Rowing:
2005: Gold medal at the Rowing World Championships, Overall World Cup winner
2004: Olympic Silver medallist in Athens, Overall World Cup winner, Winner Princess Grace Challenge Cup – Henley Royal Regatta
2003: World Cup Silver medallist
2001: U23 British Indoor Rowing Champion
2000: U23 World Champion