Following an independent investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour Louise Kingsley MBE has suddenly retired from her role as British Rowing’s performance director.
British Rowing confirmed this afternoon that the investigation, prompted by a third-party complaint believed to date back to early this year, had been resolved with no further action deemed necessary. Further disruption could yet follow. It is understood a coach is also suspended pending the results of a separate investigation. Kingsley has been absent from her role since February reportedly due to illness. Her decision not to return to her role brings to an abrupt end a long and medal-laden career. Tom Dyson MBE, a longtime colleague of Kingsley and formerly the lead para rowing coach, has been serving as acting performance director for the past six months and will remain in that capacity whilst a permanent successor is sought. The position will be advertised publicly in due course.
With Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games two years away, it will be a tough transition to get right. Great Britain’s high-performance squad, who are based in Caversham at the national team’s centre, will likely face disruption as they build towards their biggest event of the four-year cycle. The recruitment process must follow strict UK Sport guidelines, leaving the next performance director a short run-in before the next Games: they will likely take control midway through the Olympic qualification year (2027), with only a single complete season before LA 2028.
Despite leading the way in Paris, the wider landscape has been fraught. British Rowing has found itself enveloped in controversy in the past 18 months, with safeguarding scandals at two of the nation’s leading clubs: Leander in Henley and Oxford Brookes University.
A British Rowing statement read: “Louise has been away from the team for the past few months while an independent investigation into a complaint was conducted. That investigation has now concluded, with it being agreed that no further action will be taken by British Rowing. During her time away, Louise has had the opportunity to reflect on her incredible and lengthy career, and has taken the decision that now is the right time for her to retire.”
Kingsley was the first female to lead British Rowing’s performance programme since the advent of Lottery Funding. Penny Chuter was the trail-blazer that came before holding the position of Director of International Rowing from 1986 to 1990. Kingsley was GB’s Para Rowing performance director at Tokyo 2020 a role she took following a long stint as a GB Rowing high performance coach, after rowing joined the Paralympic program in 2006. She previously coached GB’s first junior women’s world championship medal in 1993 and became a high performance coach in 1997.
In a statement Kingsley said: “It has been an amazing professional challenge to turn around a large Olympic performance programme from an under performance at the Tokyo games to delivering the sports best overseas games results in Paris with 36 athletes returning with Olympic medals and 15 returning as Olympic Champions. At the same time ensuring GB’s amazing Paralympic programme continued to lead the world was a significant achievement and they did it in style delivering GBs best Paralympic medal haul with 3 Gold and 1 Silver from 5 events.
“The GB Rowing Team delivers a truly World Class programme. I am confident that the Performance Leadership Team, alongside the talented coaches and support staff are now well established as a top nation and are on track to support our brilliant athletes to deliver in LA. By departing now I give BR the best opportunity to embed my replacement ahead of the LA games and with time to influence Rowing’s Brisbane and beyond performance strategy.”
