ACT local coach Paul Thompson will be inducted into the ACT Sport Hall of Fame on Friday 1 December. Thompson currently coaches the Great Britain women’s rowing team and has previously coached Australian and British teams to Olympic glory.

He has led medal winning boats at every Olympic Games since Atlanta in 1996 and boasts an impressive individual career with an Australian championship and Kings Cup win to his name.

The 53-year-old admits he still has to pinch himself “regularly” in the midst of a sparkling career that has seen him appointed a Member of the British Empire (MBE).

“I’ve been really fortunate to coach world and Olympic champions in Australia, and world and Olympic champions in the UK,” Thompson said.

“I try and resist pulling out single ones but it’s really the people behind the performance that you get to deal with and work with. There’s some outstanding characters among them, and for that it’s been a real fantastic journey.

“When I look back, the people that [nominated] me that are on the ACT Rowing Association are volunteers, they were volunteering when I was a teenager learning how to row.

“You get a really good perspective [when you look back]. They were helping you on the way as a youngster and they’ve been great supporters ever since.”

Story by Caden Helmers – Canberra Times