It’s fair to say that Richard Hounslow isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. Since graduating from Harrow College in 2000, completing A Levels in Human Biology, Geography and Physical Education, Richard has gone on to become one of the most recognised figures in the world of competitive canoeing.
A Level Human Biology, Geography and Physical Education
1998 - 2000
It’s fair to say that Richard Hounslow isn’t one to shy away from a challenge. Since graduating from Harrow College in 2000, completing A Levels in Human Biology, Geography and Physical Education, Richard has gone on to become one of the most recognised figures in the world of competitive canoeing.
At the London Olympics last year he took home the silver medal in the men’s doubles canoe slalom for Team GB. Prior to that he won gold at the European Championships in Augsburg, Germany, in the same discipline.
You might even say that he has Harrow College to thank for his hunger to succeed. "Going to college is a choice. It made me realise that to get to where you want to go in life, you sometimes have to do things that challenge you and that you don't always enjoy. It’s a bit like my training, I don't enjoy the really hard sessions, or the constant feeling of painful muscles and being tired, but I know I need to do it to achieve sporting success."
For Richard, his definitive sporting accomplishment to date is his Olympic win. "To win an Olympic medal in the city I was born and raised was a dream come true for me. I was at a competition in Athens when London won the bid to host the Olympics, and from that point on, I had one goal – to win big in London."
But that’s not to say he doesn’t have his sights set higher for the future. If anything it’s made him more determined to succeed.
"It’s business as usual for me now. Every year between now and Rio de Janeiro [where the next Olympic Games will be held in 2016], I will compete in the World Championships, European Championships and the World Cup Series. It’s 2015 that I will be aiming high for. Not only will this be the first stage of Olympic selection, it will also see the white water course in London host its first major competition since the Olympics."
This year Richard comes back to Harrow College to give the key-note speech at the annual Student Awards. His story is sure to inspire current students that anything is possible.
Update:
Richard Hounslow, along with his competition partner David Florence won the silver medal for the men's double canoe slalom at Rio 2016.