| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Thomas William Birtwhistle |
| Nickname | Birty |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Born | 30 October 1992 Sydney, New South Wales |
| Height | 194 cm (6 ft 4 in) |
| Weight | 94 kg (207 lb) |
| Sport | |
| Country | Australia |
| Sport | Rowing |
| Club | University of Technology Sydney / Molesey Boat Club |
Thomas “Birty” William Birtwhistle is an Australian rower. He was a member of the PR3 Mix 4+ team at the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics.[1]
Personal
Birtwhistle was born 30 October 1992.[2] He attended Sydney’s St Joseph’s College.[2] He was struck by a car whilst cycling to rowing training.[2] This resulted in an impairment to his left hip and leg.[2] He started a Bachelor of Engineering at University of New South Wales in 2013 but transferred to complete a Bachelor of Commerce/Bachelor of Engineering at Macquarie University in 2014.
During COVID Lockdown, he started a Masters Degree at University of Technology Sydney.
Rowing
Birtwhistle rowed whilst at school and at University, at a U23 national level. He retired post a car accident, whilst he was cycling. The Sydney COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 led him to training on a rowing ergometer and this led to his return to rowing.[2] He rows from the UTS Haberfield Rowing Club in Sydney.[3]
Birtwhistle won the Men’s PR3 Single Scull at the 2021 Australian Rowing Championships.[2] He won the PR3 Men’s Single Scull event as part of the International Rowing Regatta, which was run alongside the 2021 Final Paralympic Qualification Regatta in Gavirate, Italy. This qualified him for the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in PR3 Mix 4+ team.[4]
At the 2020 Summer Paralympics, Birtwhistle was a member of the PR3 Mix 4+ along with James Talbot, Nikki Ayers, Alexandra Viney. Their cox was Renae Domaschenz. They qualified for the final after winning their Repechage and briefly holding the Paralympic record, with time a of 7:06.98. He came fourth in the final and failed to win a medal.[5]
With Jessica Gallagher, Alexandra Viney, James Talbot and Teesaan Koo under the canvas, Birtwhistle finished fourth in the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four at the 2022 World Rowing Championships.[6] At the 2023 World Rowing Championships, Birtwhistle and his crew finished fourth in the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four.[7]
References
- ↑ "Para-Rowers Overcome Adversity To Secure Tokyo Berth". Paralympics Australia. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Thomas William Birtwhistle". Paralympics Australia. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ↑ "Tom Birtwhistle". Rowing Australia. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ↑ "Australia Qualifies A Third Boat For The Tokyo Paralympic Games". Paralympics Australia. 7 June 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ↑ "Australian Paralympic Team for Tokyo 2021". The Roar. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ↑ "Silver and Bronze on the Penultimate Day of the 2022 World Rowing Championships". Rowing Australia. 25 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
- ↑ "Silver lining for Morrison, McIntyre as Pair cast their eyes toward Paris". Rowing Australia. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.