Tom Barras (rower)
Thomas Elliott Barras is a British rower. He won a bronze medal in the single scull at the 2017 World Championships and a silver medal in the quadruple scull at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. He is also a qualified physiotherapist, having graduated with a degree in Physiotherapy from Cardiff University.
Early life and education
Barras is from Staines-upon-Thames, Surrey, and learned to row aged eleven at Burway Rowing Club. He attended Tiffin School and then completed A Levels in PE, Biology, and Politics at Esher Sixth Form College. During his time at Esher, he was selected for the 2012 World Rowing Junior Championships, marking his first Great Britain vest. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy from Cardiff University in 2015.Rowing career
After progressing through under-23 squads, Barras debuted at senior level in 2017 at Nathan Benderson Park, Sarasota, Florida, where his sprint secured bronze in the men’s single sculls behind Ondřej Synek and Ángel Fournier.Tokyo 2020 Olympic silver
For the postponed Tokyo Games Barras joined Harry Leask, Angus Groom and Jack Beaumont in a rebuilt men’s quadruple sculls.. In the final the crew finished second to the Netherlands, earning Britain’s first Olympic medal in men’s quads. Barras later reflected that the result came from “head-down belief” in the closing strokes.At the Paris 2024 Olympics he again stroked the quad, which finished fourth after a late charge for bronze.
Achievements
Olympic Games
- 2024 – 4th, quadruple sculls
- 2020 – Silver, quadruple sculls
World Championships
- 2022 – Silver, quadruple sculls
- 2017 – Bronze, single sculls