John Pritchard

Who is John Pritchard?

John Martin Pritchard is a British rower who competed in the 1980 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal, and in the 1984 Summer Olympics.

Pritchard was born in Fulham, South West London. His father, John William Pritchard, was a Detective Chief Superintendent and who made his career as an investigating officer on the Great Train Robbery in 1963.

He attended St Clement Danes Grammar School, Ducane Road, Hammersmith from 1969-1975 and Robinson College, Cambridge from 1983 to 1986, where he read Law. Whilst at Cambridge, he was President of the Hawks' Club, succeeding Rob Andrew, the England Rugby player.

In 1980 he was a crew member of the British eight which won the Olympic silver medal. In 1981, he won a silver medal at the World Rowing Championships in Munich. He finished fifth with the British eight in the 1984 Olympics.

He coached Oxford University Boat Club in 1980 and 1981, and Cambridge University Boat Club in 1982 and 1983. He rowed in The Boat Race three times for Cambridge against Oxford. In the 1984 race, the crew in which he rowed famously hit a barge moored above Putney Bridge resulting in the much-broadcast image of a sinking boat.