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Nathaniel
Reilly O'Donnell
Nathaniel is a very talented rower and has won several medals at national level including 5 Golds in 2003/4 and winning the Petit final for the coxed four in the 2005 World championships. In 2006 he was National School’s Champion, National Club Champion and had represented Great Britain.
He received funding of £500 towards the costs of travel
and accommodation required to attend the Great Britain U23 training camp for
the Youth Olympics in Australia in January 2007. He had managed to secure
all his expenses for the Australia trip but he still needed funding to attend
a training and trial camp in Caversham, near Reading once a month until the
start of the Youth Olympics.
After attending the training camp Nathaniel was very pleased when it was announced
that he had been chosen to row for Great Britain at the Youth Olympics.
He felt very honoured to be part of the Great Britain squad of young olympians
and coaches who took part in the event and although he has had a season dogged
with injury and illness he has gone on to be selected to attend the senior
men’s training camp in Seville.
The
success of the Youth Olympics in January acted as a spring board for achievements
later in the year and Nathaniel was selected to compete in the University
of London first 8 for the Head of the River ( a big race on the Thames in
March), he placed third best U23 pair at senior trials in Harzlewinkel, Belgium,
won two gold’s, a bronze and placed 5th at BUSA, was selected for the
lead GB U23 men’s boat to race in Essen, won the Prince Albert Challenge
Cup with the University of London at Henley Royal Regatta (July) and selected
in the GB U23 men’s 8 which came 6th at the U23 World Championships.
Nathaniel commented;
‘To all those at and concerned with Durham County Foundation, I wish to thank you for the support and help you have given me this year. Thankfully I was successful in my selection and raced for GB in the men’s pair, coxless four and eight. The competition was a fantastic experience and I hold it as my most favourite trip away as part of the GB squad. The grant was instrumental in allowing me to do this and I would like to thank all those concerned.’
He
was also voted the rowing team men’s captain by his fellow athletes,
which was a huge honour.
The region as a whole was very well represented at the Youth Olypmics with six locals and two university students members of the eighteen person squad. Nathaniel won a gold medal in the pair, gold in the coxless four and silver in the eight. He contacted County Durham Foundation to say;
'The continued support of friends, family and sponsors allows me to succeed in my aims and goals for my sporting and academic life. Although I am currently studying law at UCL I have my heart firmly placed in the North East.'
Nathaniel's home is in Old Cassop, County Durham but during term time he lives in London. He enjoys training in the home environment of County Durham the most.
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