Oxford's Team GB Hopefuls

Mara Yamauchi

Born in Oxford in 1973, Mara studied and graduated from St Ann's College, Oxford University, in 1995 with a degree in Politics, Economics and Philosophy.  Mara then went on to achieve a Masters degree in Political Economy from the London School of Economics. She has been a resident of Oxford since the age of 8.

Mara came sixth in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and in April 2009 Mara set her personal best of 2:23:12 in the London Marathon, a time which ranks her as the 2nd fastest British female marathon runner ever.

Mara will be running the women's marathon at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Please visit Mara Yamauchi's full biography for more information.

GB Rowing Hopefuls

Richard Chambers

Born in Belfast in 1985, Richard studied at Oxford Brookes University, where he belonged to the Oxford Brookes University Boat Club

Richard was an Olympic finalist in 2008, 2010 & 2007 World Champion and 2011 World Bronze medallist - light weight. Full biography on GB Rowing Team website.

Peter Chambers

Brother of Richard Chambers, Peter Chambers born in 1990 also studied at Oxford Brookes University and belonged to the Universities Boat Club.

Peter was the 2011 World Champion & World U23 Champion lightweight men's pair, 2010 World finalist, World U23 silver medallist 2010 - lightweight men's single skull. Full biography on GB Rowing Team website.

Francis Houghton

Born in Oxford in 1980, Frances first learned to row at the Dragon School.

Frances is four times World Champion and double Olympic silver medallist, 2004 - 2010 - women's quadruple skull. Full biography on GB Rowing Team website.

Caroline O'Connor

Born in 1983 with her hometown in Ealing, London, Caroline studied Human Biology at Oxford Brookes University, where she belonged to the Oxford Brookes University Boat Club.  Caroline is now a teacher at the Oxford Academy.

Caroline is 2011 & 2008 World bronze medallist, 2010 World finalist, 2008 Olympic finalist - women's eight. Full biography on GB Rowing Team website.

Andrew Triggs Hodge MBE

Born in Aylesbury in 1979, Andrew is a former Oxford Blue and is the reigning Olympic Champion in the men's four, winning gold in Beijing.

Andrew was Olympic Champion 2008 - men's four and World silver medallist 2011, 2010 & 2009 - men's pair. Full biography on GB Rowing Team website.

Lily van den Broecke

Born in Oxford in 1992, Lily learned to row at Headington Girls School.

Lily is 2011 World Champion - LTA mixed coxed four (cox). Full biography on GB Rowing Team website.

Support Staff

Lars Goran (YOGI) Breisner MBE FBHS

Yogi has become one of the country's most successful and respected trainers of both riders and horses.  As a rider he competed successfully in dressage, show jumping, horse trials and point-to-points in Sweden, Ireland and the UK.   He was a member of the Swedish three day event team from 1976-1987, winning team gold and finishing fourth individually at the 1983 European Championships as well as representing Sweden at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.  He was placed in the top ten at Badminton Horse Trials four times (best 3rd in 1980 with Ultimus) and was ranked in the top ten of the world three day event riders for four years.

From 1978-1991 he worked at the famous Waterstock House Training Centre, near Oxford,  training horses and students and became a Fellow of the British Horse Society in 1992.  He was involved in training the Spanish Olympic three day event team and deputized as Chef d’Equipe at Atlanta in 1996.

Yogi was appointed World Class Performance Manager and Chef d’Equipe to the British three day event team in December 1999, prior to the Sydney Olympics when the team brought home a silver medal and teams under his management have since brought home a further twenty-four medals. In 2000 Yogi was appointed National Coach by British Eventing and has been instrumental in the development of coaching initiatives across all levels of eventing.  In addition to the senior team he also oversees the other British three day event teams - Pony, Junior and Young Rider.

As well he has made his mark in the racing world.  Since 1994, he has been an instructor and lecturer on jumping at the British Racing School in Newmarket and his talent at teaching horses to jump has been utilised by a number of National Hunt trainers.

GB and International Oxford University Hopefuls

25 Oxford University students and alumni took part in the 2008 Olympics winning nine medals.

Visit the Oxford University website for information about those hoping to compete at London 2012.

Page last reviewed 6 June 2012