When an Olympic medallist came to town!
Ollie Wynne-Griffith won a dramatic silver medal in Paris this summer, just being pipped at the post with boyhood friend Tom George by Croatia in the rowing pairs.
He is the grandson of Welshpool Rotary Club member Michael Wynne-Griffith so has strong connections to the town.
Ollie relived that dramatic race in August when the pair looked set to win, but the Croatian defending champions Martin and Valent Sinkovic, charged past them in the closing 20m to win by 0.45 seconds.
He shared his family’s story, from his great-grandfather at the 1932 Olympics to his own Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze in the men’s eight, and now in the pairs in Paris. Ollie had both Olympic medals with him and they were passed around the attendees.
Ollie grew up dreaming of representing Wales in rugby but was drawn to rowing, and he honed his rowing craft at Yale University and Cambridge University, competing in the Boat Race in 2022.
Welshpool Rotary meet on the second and fourth Wednesday at 12.30pm at the Royal Oak.
For more information on what Rotary has to offer contact Mike Lade on 07803 038858, welshpoolrotary@gmail.com or see www.welshpoolrotary.com. They are also on Facebook @rotaryinwelshpool
PICTURE: President Wendy Beven (left), Grandfather Michael Wynne-Griffith and Olympian Ollie Wynne-Griffith (right).
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