Gregory and Stanning named GB Rowing Olympic Athletes of the Year

Alex Gregory and Heather Stanning have been named as the Olympic Athletes of the Year at GB Rowing’s annual dinner ©GB Rowing

Alex Gregory and Heather Stanning have been named as the Olympic Athletes of the Year at GB Rowing’s annual dinner at Twickenham Stadium.

The announcement continues the remarkable year for Stanning, who was crowned World Rowing Female Crew of the Year along with teammate Helen Glover after the pair continued their unbeaten run which stretches back to their triumph at London 2012.

The duo successfully defended their world title at the 2015 World Championships in Aiguebelette, France and Glover also finished at the summit of the World Rowing Top 10 rankings.

Stanning and Glover are due to be presented with their World Rowing award at the 2015 World Rowing Coaches Conference gala dinner in Sarasota, Florida today.

“Heather displays an exemplary attitude of hard work, self-discipline and teamwork in all that she does and thoroughly deserves this accolade,” GB Rowing team performance director Sir David Tanner said.

Gregory was an integral part of the British men’s eight team who edged Olympic champions Germany to their fourth consecutive world title in Aiguebelette.

Nicole Lamb and Joel Cassells were given Mark Lees Foundation Awards at GB Rowing's dinner ©GB Rowing

He was also a member of the men’s four which won Olympic gold at London 2012 on “Super Saturday”, where Britain won six gold medals, and now has five world crowns to his name.

“Alex is an outstanding technician, respected as a great team player and is highly successful with three World Championship titles since his Olympic Gold in 2012,” Tanner said.

Also honoured at the dinner were Nicole Lamb and Joel Cassells, who were given Mark Lees Foundation Awards.

Lamb has been a key figure on the women’s under 23 eight team and guided the crew to World Rowing Championships silver in Dorney in 2011.

Cassells was given the prize after he finished the year as a reigning World and European lightweight pair champion.

“Nicole and Joel have had exceptional under 23 careers and have the class to step onto the senior Olympic pathway as we look towards Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020,” Tanner added.

All of the award recipients received their prizes from five-times Olympic champion Sir Steve Redgrave.