Pamela Relph
Athlete Information
-
Region
Aylesbury
-
Date of Birth
14/11/1989
-
Classification
LTA at Rio
Athlete main content
Bio
Pamela Relph is a double Paralympic Champion having won gold with the mixed coxed four at both London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Relph also stood on the top step of the podium at four World Championships between 2011 and 2015, meaning she won a World or Paralympic gold medal for six consecutive years.
Pamela’s gold at the London 2012 Paralympic Games came just two years after she took up rowing. She was introduced to the sport in August 2010 by her older sister Monica, a member of the GB Rowing Team, after arthritis cut short her ambition of a military career as an engineering officer with the Royal Engineers.
Pamela proved to be a natural and made her international debut in 2011, winning World Cup gold with the LTA mixed coxed four in Munich. She was also selected for the World Championships in Bled and enjoyed another fine victory.
The GB four of Pamela, Naomi Riches, David Smith, James Roe and cox Lily van den Broecke entered the London 2012 Paralympic Games as favourites. The crew lived up to that status as, in front of a delighted home crowd at Eton Dorney, they finished two seconds clear of Germany to be crowned as Paralympic Champions. Pamela was awarded an MBE in the 2013 New Year Honours list.
Pamela started the Rio Paralympiad in a four with Naomi Riches, James Fox, Oli Hester and Oliver James. They won World Cup at Eton Dorney before finishing five seconds clear of Italy at the World Championships in Chungju, South Korea.
Grace Clough replaced Naomi Riches for the first race of 2014, where the four once again won World Cup gold in Varese. Dan Brown then came in for Oli Hester at the World Championships in Amsterdam and helped GB secure another impressive clear-water victory.
The 2015 season saw the LTA mixed coxed four of Pamela, Grace Clough, Dan Brown, James Fox and cox Oliver James once again prove they are the boat to beat.
During an outstanding World Cup in Varese, the four set world-best times on consecutive days as they won gold in emphatic style. The World Championships in Aiguebelette proved to be a much tighter affair but the GB crew dug deep to see off a strong challenge from the United States and retain their title.
At Rio 2016 the mixed coxed four delivered in the final race of the regatta, with cox Oliver James calling the tactics and Pam providing the power alongside team-mates Grace Clough, James Fox and Daniel Brown to secure gold for ParalympicsGB.
She retired from international competition in February 2017.
Major Results
Rio 2016 Paralympic Games
- LTA Mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+): Gold
London 2012 Paralympic Games
- LTA Mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+): Gold
2015 World Championships, Aiguebelette, France
- LTA Mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+): Gold
2014 World Championships, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- LTA Mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+): Gold
2013 World Championships, Chungju, South Korea
- LTA mixed coxed four (LTAMix4+): Gold