Thompson steps down after guiding GB Rowing crews to 14 Olympic medals

In a coaching career spanning almost 18 years, he has been involved with both the women's and lightweight squads during his time with the national team.

He coached Dame Katherine Grainger for 15 years, as she went on to win five Olympic medals making her Great Britain's most decorated female Olympian.

Thompson helped Great Britain be one of the top performing women's rowing nations at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 championships.

Among these results were a host of firsts including Great Britain's first lightweight men's gold medal at Beijing 2008, the first women's gold medals at London 2012 and Great Britain's first Olympic medal in the women's eight at Rio 2016.

He has personally coached crews to medals at the last six Olympic games for Great Britain and Australia.

Thompson said: "It has been the most incredible 18 years of my life. It has been challenging and extremely rewarding, as well as a team effort.

"It is such an honour and privilege to lead, coach and work with the most phenomenal group of talented athletes, incredibly gifted coaches, outstanding support staff and dedicated administrators of the GB Rowing Team; I owe them so much.

"However, for me, it feels like this is the right time to move on and look for my next challenge."

Thompson will now focus on his role as independent non-executive director at GB Hockey as well as working at the UK Performance Coaches Association.

He was awarded an MBE in the 2013 New Year's Honours for his services to rowing and the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Anna Watkins, who won gold alongside Dame Katherine Grainger at London 2012, lead the tributes.

She said:"I was fortunate enough to spend my entire rowing career with 'Tommo' at the helm.

"As a young athlete, I remember the huge learning curve as I worked to meet his high standards.

"He taught me that the two key ingredients for success were performance and consistency, which I struggled to maintain in the teeth of his training programme, but then found I was able to break world records on the ergo and win medals on the world stage."

Sportsbeat 2018