Charlotte Taylor’s incredible journey since joining Putney Town RC took one more step yesterday as the British Olympic Association announced the Team GB rowing team for this Summer’s Games in Rio. Having won the light-weight trials earlier this year, Charlotte was in pole position to take the seat alongside reigning Olympic Champion Katherine Copeland in the light-weight double sculls. Yesterday’s announcement confirmed that Charlotte will fulfil her dream to race at the very highest level.
Charlotte’s progress has been an incredible journey for club members, friends and family to follow. Having joined Putney Town back in 2011 and learned to row with our women’s squad, Charlotte started her journey in the single scull a year later. She won Henley Women’s Regatta in 2013 and finished 5th in her first national trials in the same year.
Supported in her quest by club member Tom Evens and club coach Martin Gough, Charlotte competed for the national team for the first time in 2014, racing in the non Olympic class light-weight quad at the World Rowing Championships (finishing 6th) and light-weight single scull at the European Rowing Championships (4th). In the national trials she moved up to 3rd place.
The following year Charlotte moved into the Olympic class boat of the light-weight double scull – and won Silver at the World Rowing Championships with Ellie Piggott completing a GB 1-2 at the event – as well as winning Gold at the World Cup Regatta in Varese and at the European Championships in the same boat. She also moved up to 2nd in the national trials.
The story continued in 2016, with Charlotte winning the Olympic Trials at GB’s base in Caversham ahead of Katherine. Now selected to race together in Rio, everyone at Putney Town RC is incredibly proud of what Charlotte has achieved, and we look forward to the next chapter…