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Sportsister talks to Vicky Thornley

November 6, 2024

Vicky Thornley had never even sat in a rowing boat two years ago and now thanks to UK Sport she has a World Championship gold medal, and is training for a place at the London 2012 Olympics. Sportsister talked to Vicky about the journey.

Tell us how you came to be part of the Sporting Giants programme

I have always been sporty, but my sport was show jumping before and I had never even tried rowing. I was competing at home international level and rode at the Horse Of The Year Show, but I was still at school, so it was fairly low level.

Being so tall, I had tried modelling, but that didn’t turn out as well as I would have hoped so when I saw the advert for Sporting Giants I thought I would give it a go. When I was accepted onto the course I had just started at University in London and I had to leave and move to Bath to start training. So it was quite a big decision.

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Have you had any doubts about taking this decision?

No not at all, I really threw myself into it. It was not a hard decision to make in reality, the timing was actually pretty good in the sense that I had not really got going on the course, so it was easier for me than I imagine it could be for others.

When I decided to do this I made up my mind to give it 100% and that is what I have done.

How hard was it to move to a city where you didn’t know anyone?

I moved in with another girl that I had met once on the Sporting Giants programme, so that was fine and now I live with another two girls on the programme as well. It’s great because we all have the same goals, and on a practical side we all need to get to bed early, eat properly and go training so there are no issues with conflicting lifestyles.

How hard was it to learn a new sport?

When I started to learn to row, it did take a while to master – I fell out a lot, but that is all part of the fun. Then there are all the different boats to learn and also different positions within the boat. I started off in a single and then at the World Championships I ended up in an eight with a cox and it is really very different.

We are constantly learning. There is such a difference between the boats, in a single scull you have two oars and then in an eight you just have one, it’s challenging but exciting at the same time.

So tell us about the highlights?

To win the medal was just out of this world – it really was incredible. My aim was to to make the team this year; and then when I got in the boat and we got through our heat straight to the finals I started to allow myself to imagine we might win a medal. But then to get the Gold just surpassed all expectations. It didn’t really sink in for a while.

Do you feel a great weight of expectation being on this programme?

Yes I do a bit, but as much from myself as anyone – there is always a bit of a worry that I may spend all this time dedicating myself to it and then not achieve my goals. But I just have to put that to the back of my mind. In a way that is what motivates me, and gets me up in the morning – I don’t want to just be good, I want to really achieve something, so the fear of not doing that drives me on.

All I can do is give 100%, as long as I have tried my best then there won’t be that nagging doubt that I could have tried harder.

How do you stay motivated in the off-season?

Well this year, the aim was to get into the team, but now I have had that taste of success I want more. During the winter we are constantly being assessed and trials for the team take place then, so there’s always something to aim for. Now I have to try and get into the senior team as I am no longer in the U23’s category – I have got to find a lot more speed and really step up in order to achieve that.

How have you been received by the girls that have been rowing for ages and come through the more usual rowing club route?

I have been really welcomed, I think they see it as very exciting because it has a knock on effect for them, especially in their crew boats. Everyone has been really friendly and really supportive. I have learnt a lot from them too – most of the girls have been to many international races before, whereas I had only been to one before the worlds this summer, so they have helped me a lot. I would have really felt out of my league otherwise.

Training up at the University in Bath as been amazing too, I am surrounded by world class athletes and that is really motivating. The atmosphere is one of success and really top level – it is amazing.

What do you do in your spare time?

We don’t get much; I have a part time job and I am studying for a diploma, which keeps my mind active and stops me worrying about training. We rarely get to go out, but maybe once a month if we haven’t got a race or training on a Sunday we will go out and let our hair down on a Saturday night – but that’s quite unusual!

How tall are you and has this programme helped you feel proud of who you are?

I am 6ft 3 - I was bullied a little bit at school for being tall and called lanky and all those usual sorts of comments. But when I did some modelling, that improved my self esteem. Now I love being tall, I am surrounded by tall people and have come to realise what a huge asset it is – I could not do this without being tall.

I think this programme is going to have such a far reaching effect, sport in this country is really improving and long-term so many of us will be keen to stay in sport and work within the industry. It’s just all so positive.

What would you say to someone thinking of applying?

I would say, just give it a go, there really is nothing to lose with just signing up – there is no obligation at that stage and if you don’t make it then at least you know you tried – also you may find you are suitable for something else! I would never have thought that I would be standing here two years on with a World Championship gold medal – it’s amazing.

Danielle Sellwood, Sportsister
The Women’s Sports Magazine

A new search is on by the UK Sport and the English Institute of Sport for young athletes capable of representing and winning medals for Great Britain in Brazil in 2016. ‘Talent 2016′ involves a series of searches to find athletic youngsters with the potential to win medals at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in seven years time. The first search in the series, ‘Tall and Talented’, is looking for men over 190cm or 6′ 3″ and women over 180cm or 5′ 11” between the ages of 15 – 22, who could find success in sports where height can give anathlete a real advantage, such as rowing and basketball.

To sign up for Talent 2016: Tall and Talented, or to register interest in future Talent 2016 campaigns, applicants should submit their details before 16 November 2024 at www.uksport.gov.uk/talent.

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