31 January 2012: Olympic and World champion Mark Hunter has been named rowing's Olympic Athlete of the Year for 2011 by the British Olympic Association.
The Leander Club athlete received his award at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday night during the GB Rowing Team's annual team awards dinner.
Hunter was Captain of Leander for two years in advance of the Beijing Olympics, where he partnered Zac Purchase in the lightweight men's double scull to win Britain's first-ever Olympic lightweight rowing medal. He is passionate about having a chance to defend his Olympic crown in front of a home crowd and is hard in training with the whole squad who are seeking selection for the chance to race at Eton Dorney.
"Mark is a double Olympian and a shining example of the integrity, dedication and teamwork which underpins the best of the sport of rowing. He is at the top of his game, having won gold in Beijing and has been twice World Champion in this Olympiad in the lightweight men's double", said GB Rowing Team Performance Director, David Tanner.
"The Olympic Athlete of the Year award celebrates the excellence of athletes who represent the very best of British talent in their respective Olympic sports. Mark Hunter clearly belongs to this group and I wish him the very best as he continues to make his mark and fight for selection for London 2012.", said British Olympic Association Chief Executive Andy Hunt.
