Forces Triple Olympic Rowing Champion Pete Reed Announces Retirement

The Royal Navy's triple Olympic champion Lieutenant Pete Reed has announced his retirement from competitive rowing.

He won his third Olympic title in the men's eight at the 2016 Rio Olympics but has since undergone surgery on his hips.

The 36-year-old is the most decorated British forces sportsman in history, previously winning Olympic titles in Beijing in 2008 and London 2012 in the coxless four, as well as five World Rowing titles.

The Beijing gold came just six years after taking up rowing, after one defeat and one win in the annual Boat Race between Oxford and Cambridge universities.

He was made an MBE in 2009 and an OBE in the 2017 New Year's Honours list for his services to rowing, one of his proudest moments. Speaking at the time, he told Forces Network:

"Rowers... We don't do it for recognition, we do it for the love of the sport. To be truly honoured in this way is just remarkable and amongst such wonderful people as well.

"I've had the most amazing time in rowing. It's given me so much."

"Days like today I can't keep the smile off my face."

'The Commander' - as he's known - decided to work towards competing in Tokyo 2020, but had surgery on both his left and right hips at the beginning of last year.

Since then, despite his best efforts, he's been unable to get his place back in the British elite squad.

The Forces Network team has taken a look at Lt Reed's glittering career... just click below to watch:

Analysis from Forces Network sports editor Jon Knighton (above right):

With Lt Pete Reed it has always been all or nothing.

So perhaps it is no surprise then that he has decided to call time on his glittering rowing career at the age of 36.

His decision to do so means he goes out at the very top.

The Royal Navy man's retirement marks the end of an amazing career in one of the most competitive of sports and he leaves a remarkable legacy for British rowing and forces sport in general.

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