Jess Leyden ‘awesome’, says coach

Anna Marie Phelps, President of British Rowing; Jess Leyden and coach, Ian John

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Jess Leyden has been praised by her coach after making rowing history by becoming the first GB woman to win a gold medal in the junior single skull event making her the World Rowing Junior Champion.

Her coach, Ian John from Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club said: “After winning two golds at Munich International in May, it was on the cards she might do well at the worlds, to see her power her way to the finish in such style was awesome.”

Jess finished the race in 7.49.96 with Belarus coming in second and France placing third.

This was the only medal for GB in Lithuania.

Jess rows for Hollingworth Lake Rowing Club and has been rowing since the age of 12.

Now Jess, who received her successful A level results last week, has to make the decision how to best tackle moving up to the U23 squad.

The World Junior Championships were held in Trakai, Lithuania last week and eighteen year old Jess became one of the favorites for the final after successfully finishing her heats and semi final races.

She faced stiff competition from Belarus, Germany and France who all went well with a flying start. At 500m Jess was placed fifth, five seconds behind the leader but she stuck to her race plan and within the next 500m, had caught up to the other racers and gradually overtook them.