Rower Darren aims for the 2012 Olympics

Sports Therapy lecturer Darren Cooper has the potential to represent the UK in the 2012 Olympics.

A sporting accident led to a new direction in world class rowing for Darren, 25. He is a Teesside BSc (Hons) and MSc graduate and is continuing with postgraduate study. In 2006 he sustained a knee injury after a running activity with his students. Darren said: ‘I ruptured the tendon below my knee cap. Following rehabilitation, I couldn’t run anymore and take part in basketball and rugby.’

Originally from Horsham, near Brighton, Darren shared his house with students who were keen rowers and joined them at the University’s Water Sports Centre next to the River Tees in Stockton. He enjoyed rowing, started regular training and met Nathan Adams, a World Class Start programme coach. This programme is run by the Amateur Rowing Association to produce rowers of gold medal standard. Darren was tested for the programme and rapidly accepted onto it, progressing to one of the higher level training groups.

In January Darren attended a ten day World Class Start / GB training camp in France. Later this year he takes part in major rowing events, including the Henley Royal Regatta and National Championships. He completes 17 training sessions a week of two to three hours each time, involving weights and rowing up to 200km. His diet now requires a daily intake of up to 7,000 calories.

Darren said: ‘I’ve gone from recreational rowing to potentially representing Great Britain in a very short space of time. There are only 70 rowers on the World Class start programme in the UK. If I get to take part in 2012 that will be phenomenal, amazing to have got so far.’

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