Peter Purcell-Gilpin was born on 4 July 1994 and is a Zimbabwean rower who competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
11 Facts About Peter Purcell-Gilpin
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Peter Purcell-Gilpin suffered from a muscular condition that left him unable to play sports by the age of 10 because he couldn't control his shaking legs.
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Peter Purcell-Gilpin was told by doctors that he would likely lose his ability to use them, but his condition soon began to improve.
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Peter Purcell-Gilpin started rowing in 2007, and served as captain of the rowing club during his time at St George's College in Harare.
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Peter Purcell-Gilpin competed at the 2012 World Rowing Junior Championships held in Bulgaria, where he finished 16th out of 33 competitors in the single sculls event, and was named the 2013 Junior Sportsperson of the Year.
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Peter Purcell-Gilpin competed at the collegiate level while attending the University of Birmingham in England.
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Peter Purcell-Gilpin competed at his first World Championships in 2015, placing 31st overall in the single sculls.
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In 2019, Peter Purcell-Gilpin placed second in the single sculls event at the African Olympic Qualification Regatta in Tunisia to secure Zimbabwe's spot at the 2020 Summer Olympics.
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Peter Purcell-Gilpin shared flagbearer duties with 17-year-old swimmer Donata Katai.
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Peter Purcell-Gilpin earned his BSc in geology and physical geography from the University of Birmingham and is currently studying towards his PhD at the same institution.
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Peter Purcell-Gilpin married two-time Olympic rower Micheen Thornycroft in 2019 after years of serving as training partners.