A ROWING coach based in Penarth is celebrating the success of two athletes whom he has coached as they secure gold medals, with the coach stacking up a tally of more than a hundred international gold medals among athletes he has coached.

Damian Hammond, former senior GB coach, former Wales’ national coach, and Welsh 'Coach of the Year,' has celebrated two more athletes from the Llandaff Rowing Club, Rebekah knight and Miguel Ferreira De Lima, as they win singles titles in Strathclyde, Glasgow.

Mr Hammond, said it is "truly amazing" to see Rebekah and Miguel beat athletes in the senior women's single and senior men's single titles, respectively.

Llandaff Rowing Club’s para-athletes Rebekah Knight won the senior women’s single title.Llandaff Rowing Club’s para-athlete Rebekah Knight won the senior women’s single title. (Image: Damian Hammond)

Speaking on behalf of club captain and club chairman, Laura Starrs and Trevor Wing, Mr Hammond said they are "delighted with this success for Llandaff Rowing Club, as we cater for all levels of rowing, from complete beginner to High Performance, from 12 years old to 80 plus – we are a club for everyone."

Mr Hammond added that "Rebekah was talent spotted by Penarth Rowing Club and came to Llandaff to transfer to sculling only 18 months ago. Miguel, who started his rowing at Cardiff University, only decided to transfer single sculling this year."

Llandaff Rowing Club’s para-athlete Miguel Ferreira De Lima won the senior men’s single title.Llandaff Rowing Club’s para-athlete Miguel Ferreira De Lima won the senior men’s single title. (Image: Damian Hammond)

Rebekah's win was labelled "remarkable," having beaten a GB Pathway athlete to reclaim her record win at Henley Women's Regatta in June 2024. Commenting on this, Mr Hammond said: "This was remarkable, as a 17 second improvement would normally take a full season of hard training.”

Damian Hammond has now said he has coached 117 international medallists in his tally, after the win from Rebekah Knight and Miguel Ferreira De Lima.

Damian Hammond has now said he has coached 117 international medallists in his tally, after the win from Rebekah Knight and Miguel Ferreira De Lima.Damian Hammond has now said he has coached 117 international medallists in his tally, after the win from Rebekah Knight and Miguel Ferreira De Lima. (Image: Damian Hammond)

In 2002, Mr Hammond was awarded the 'Welsh Coach of the Year' award for coaching 12 Commonwealth medallists, including Wales' first Rowing Commonwealth gold and silver, and the first Lucerne World Cup Regatta gold, in any sculling discipline for GB men or women.

At the age of 37, he was also the youngest recipient of the award.