By Mark Etheridge

South Africa’s two-time Olympic rowing coach, Roger Barrow, has been named 2016 World Rowing Coach of the Year.

Barrow, who was the Team South Africa rowing coach in London four years ago and again in Rio earlier this year, was named Coach of the Year by FISA, the World Rowing Federation, in Lausanne.

The Pretoria-based Barrow was also up for nomination two years ago but missed the boat on that occasion.

In announcing the decision, FISA said: ‘Roger Barrow has spearheaded the development of elite rowing in South Africa which culminated in the first-ever Olympic gold medal in rowing for not just South Africa, but the whole of Africa.

‘This gold in the lightweight men’s four at the London Olympics was achieved using a small pool of athletes. Barrow has since grown the squad relying on the enthusiasm and dedication of athletes in the face of funding limitations.

‘Instilling a winning credence, he took a squad of five boats to Rio – the biggest squad South Africa has ever fielded at an Olympic Games. All crews made the A final with the men’s pair winning silver.’

The men’s pair in Rio, were represented by 2008 Olympian Shaun Keeling and cancer survivor Lawrence Brittain.

Barrow now has another date to look forward to next month when the award winners will be honoured on 28 January at a gala dinner during the 2016 World Rowing Coaches Conference in Vancouver, Canada.

Picture of Barrow courtesy of Wessel Oosthuizen/SASCOC Images