Thomas Birtwhistle

NSW | UTS Haberfield Rowing Club

A year or so after Tom Birtwhistle graduated from Sydney’s St Joseph’s College in 2010, he was cycling to rowing training and was struck by a car. The outcome was an impairment to his left hip, leg and sacral pelvis.

He returned to rowing in 2013 but, frustrated by injury, quit after the National Championships the next year, focusing instead on his university studies and working career.

During lockdown in 2020, Tom hopped on his ergometer at home and, after the first few painful experiences, the desire to row reappeared. He realised he missed the sport and, with the change to 2000m racing in Para-rowing, decided to give Para-rowing a solid go.

Tom returned to UTS in 2020, where coaches Hally Chapman, Alex Field and Tim McLaren helped him get to where he is today. Tom says he is extremely grateful for their support and openness. He is thankful also to his employer Lendlease for granting him leave to train and compete at a high performance level.

At his Paralympic debut at Tokyo 2020, he competed in the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four alongside James Talbot, Nikki Ayers, Alex Viney, and coxswain Renae Domaschenz to finish in fourth place with a time of 7:34.73.

Away from sport, Tom is a big fan of F45, exercising in general and spending quality time with his fiancee Madeleine.