Ian Wilson

World Lightweight Medalist and WLRA Founder

A World Lightweight medallist, Ian has Represented Great Britain ten times and has won a total of seven medals competing in the Henley Royal Regatta.

I joined the local rowing club, and this allowed me to take my athletic talent to win a World Championship. I have also represented Great Britain ten times over the course of my rowing career.

I want to advocate for lightweight rowing because the sport of rowing takes in all shapes and sizes. But as it stands, it is currently very focused on the giants. I feel this represents only a small proportion of the population. In the 2000s, Lightweight rowing finally attained Olympic status only to be let down by the sport of rowing itself, who wanted to have lightweight rowing taken out of the programme.

I first competed internationally in the men’s eight at the 1975 World Rowing Championships in Nottingham. Later, I competed in the lightweight men’s four in the 1979 World Rowing Championships, and we became world champions. I also won silver in the lightweight men's four event at the 1983 World Rowing Championships and won the bronze medal in the 1984 competition.

I am a lifelong supporter and I have coached crews to world championship medals. I am still actively involved in rowing to this day and was a founding member of Nottinghamshire County Rowing Association, where I am currently chairman.