RYBROOK SPONSORS LONDON 2012 ATHLETES
Rybrook BMW is delighted to announce their sponsorship of Sharron Davies, former Olympic Gold Medallist swimmer and BBC London 2012 Commentator (sponsored by Rybrook Warwick and Worcester BMW) and Nick Woodbridge- GB and England Modern Pentahlete Athlete (sponsored by Rybrook Shrewsbury BMW).
Sharron Davies
Sharron Davies occupies a unique position in British life. In an age of increasingly fleeting fame and notoriety, she has been one of the UK’s best known and most popular sportswomen since bursting onto the scene as a 13 year old Olympian in 1976. More than 30 years later she is still a popular, in demand and much admired character. Having first swum for Britain at the extraordinary age of 11 she was selected for the 1976 Montreal Olympics and instantly became a household name. At only 14 she confirmed her talents by winning two European Bronze medals – only losing out to the then all conquering East Germans. But it was in 1978 that 15-year-old Sharron stormed to the first of her many successes winning Commonwealth gold medals in both 200 and 400m Individual Medley events. Her astonishing form continued and in 1980 she took a battling silver medal at the Moscow Olympics finishing just behind Petra Schneider of East Germany. Ms Schneider has since admitted that her performance was heavily drug enhanced. An emotional reunion between Sharron and Petra was the subject of a captivating Channel 4 documentary. As ladies captain of Britain's 1990 Commonwealth Games squad she led by example and returned with silver and bronze medals.
Twice voted British Press Sportswoman of the Year, Sharron’s incredible international career spanned three decades, included numerous major titles and medals, 200 British records, some of which stand to this day (including the 20- year-old 400 IM record), 5 World Masters records and an MBE awarded by the Queen for services to sport.
Retiring from competition in 1994 Sharron has become a regular on television and in the press. As a key member of BBC television’s commentating and presenting team she has covered many major events including the Seoul, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens and Beijing Olympics. The London Games will be her 10th Olympiad as a competitor or broadcaster.
Rybrook Warwick and Worcester are delighted to be sponsoring Sharron Davies to bring our customers the very latest on London 2012 developments and coverage of the Games.
Nick Woodbridge
Nick is training towards London 2012 Olympics. Nick competed in his first pentathlon in 1999, which was the National Championships, where he came third. He continued to train in all five events but almost gave up on fencing, as coming home every week from fencing club beaten up with bruises wasn't the most fun. In 2000 Nick won the National Championships and was asked to travel abroad to represent Great Britain for the first time in Germany and Switzerland.
Nick has represented GB every year ever since and in 2002 I competed across 3 age groups. That year he came 6th in the European Championships in Paris. In 2003 at 17 moved to a Pentathlon Sports Academy in Durham where he continued to train for all the disciplines alongside his A levels. In 2004, at 18, Nick had his biggest success, when he became Youth World Champion in Albena, Bulgaria.
The same year Nick moved to the National Training Centre in Bath to focus on Pentathlon. A year and a half later in 2006 he won his first World Cup medal, bronze in Acapulco. The following year he won another World Cup bronze in Poland and is now focused on London 2012.
Nick will be updating us regularly on his training schedule which we will update in our latest news story pages.
Rybrook Shrewsbury is excited about sponsoring such a promising local athlete for London 2012.
