View source for Anna Watkins

{{short description|British rower}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox sportsperson
| headercolor       = lightsteelblue
| name              = Anna Watkins
| honorific_suffix  = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}}
| image             = Anna Watkins.jpg
| image_size        = <!--Only for images narrower than 220 pixels.-->
| caption           =
| birth_name        = Anna Rose Bebington
| full_name         = Anna Rose Watkins
| nickname          =
| nationality       = {{GBR}}
| citizenship       =
| hometown          = [[Wokingham]], [[Berkshire]], England
| birth_date        = {{birth date and age|1983|02|13|df=y}}
| birth_place       = [[Leek, Staffordshire]], England
| death_date        = <!-- {{death date and age|df=yes|death year|death month|death day|birth year|birth month|birth day}} -->
| death_place       =
| education         = Natural Sciences
| alma_mater        = [[Newnham College, Cambridge]]
| occupation        = Student
| yearsactive       = 2001–
| website           = {{URL|http://www.annawatkins.co.uk|AnnaWatkins.co.uk}}
| country           = Great Britain
| sport             = Rowing
| event             = [[Double scull]]s
| league            =
| league_type       =
| employer          =
| agent             =
| height            = {{height|precision=2|ft=6|in=1}}
| weight            = <!-- {{convert|}} (yyyy) -->
| universityteam    = [[Newnham College Boat Club]]
| club              = [[Rob Roy Boat Club]]<br>[[Leander Club]]
| turnedpro         = 2003
| partner           = 
| former_partner    =
| coach             =
| coaching          =
| retired           =
| worlds            =
| regionals         =
| nationals         =
| olympics          =
| paralympics       =
| highestranking    =
| pb                =
| medaltemplates    =
{{MedalSport|Women's [[rowing (sport)|rowing]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{GBR2}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[Rowing at the Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London]]|[[Rowing at the 2012 Summer Olympics – Women's double sculls|Double sculls]]}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing]]|[[Rowing at the 2008 Summer Olympics – Women's double sculls|Double sculls]]}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[World Rowing Championships|World Championships]]}}
{{MedalGold|[[2010 World Rowing Championships|2010 Karapiro]]|Double sculls}}
{{MedalGold|[[2011 World Rowing Championships|2011 Bled]]|Double sculls}}
{{MedalSilver|[[2009 World Rowing Championships|2009 Poznań]]|Double sculls}}
{{MedalBronze|[[2007 World Rowing Championships|2007 Munich]]|Double sculls}}
}}

'''Anna Rose Watkins''' ({{née}} '''Bebington''', born 13 February 1983) is a British rower.

A double Olympian, Watkins won a bronze medal at the [[2008 Summer Olympics]], and a gold medal at the [[2012 Summer Olympics]], both in the double sculls. She has also won four medals in the World Championships, winning gold in successive years, in 2010 and in 2011.

==Early life==
Watkins was born and raised in [[Leek, Staffordshire]], where she attended [[Westwood College (Leek)|Westwood College]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/news/Town-honours-Olympic-ace-Anna/article-477101-detail/article.html|title=Town honours its Olympic ace Anna|date=16 November 2008|work=The Sentinel|access-date=16 November 2008}}</ref> She studied Natural Sciences at [[Newnham College, Cambridge]], where she started rowing in 2001.

==Sporting career==
She took her first strokes with [[Newnham College Boat Club]] and was captain of lower boats and then secretary for the club. Watkins represents [[Leander Club]] in rowing events.

At Cambridge, her college crew were [[May Bumps|Head of the Cam]] in 2003, before she moved onto the World Class Start talent identification programme run by UK sport, and based at [[Rob Roy Boat Club]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.robroyboatclub.net/Internationals |title=Internationals |publisher=Rob Roy Boat Club |access-date=6 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110910005206/http://www.robroyboatclub.net/Internationals |archive-date=10 September 2011}}</ref> In 2004, she made her international debut, winning a gold medal in the Coxless IVs at the World Under 23 [[Regatta]] in [[Poznań]], Poland with crewmates Natasha Page, Beth Rodford and Alison Knowles.

In 2005, Watkins made her senior international debut with the Women's Eight, achieving a fifth place at the World Championships in [[Gifu, Gifu|Gifu]], [[Japan]]. She also won an Under 23 bronze medal at the World U23 Rowing Championships in [[Amsterdam]].<ref name=FISA>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/21387/ |title=Anna Watkins |work=[[World Rowing]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200115113848/http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/21387/ |archive-date=2020-01-15}}</ref>

In 2006, Watkins switched to sculling and began competing in the [[double scull]], a boat class she has remained with since then. The World Championships in 2006 were on home water at Eton Dorney. Watkins partnered [[Annabel Vernon]], and they came in fourth place, having won the World Cup series earlier that season.<ref name=FISA/>

For the next two years, Watkins's partner was [[Elise Laverick]]. In this combination, they won bronze medals at both the World Championships and at the [[2008 Summer Olympics|2008 Beijing Olympics]]. The Olympic medal came after a difficult season battling with glandular fever, and at the time was the closest any British oarswoman had come to an Olympic gold with the three medal winning crews separated by 0.23 seconds.<ref>{{cite web|author=John Simpson |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/olympics/article4547514.ece |title=The Times |date=10 April 2011 |access-date=6 November 2011}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

In 2009, Watkins once more partnered Annabel Vernon and won a silver medal at the World Championships in Poznań, Poland.<ref name=FISA/>

In 2010, Watkins joined forces with [[Katherine Grainger]] for the first time. In their double scull they had an unbeaten season, culminating in their victory at the World Championships in New Zealand. They were named [[International Rowing Federation|World Rowing]] Female Crew of the year<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/world-rowing-awards|title=World Rowing Awards|publisher=World Rowing|access-date=12 August 2016}}</ref> and also "''The Sunday Times'' Women's Sports Team of the Year" for 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishrowing.org/news/watkins-and-grainger-win-sunday-times-womens-team-year-award-0 |title=Watkins and Grainger win Sunday Times Women's Team of the Year Award |publisher=British Rowing |access-date=6 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101227083331/http://www.britishrowing.org/news/watkins-and-grainger-win-sunday-times-womens-team-year-award-0 |archive-date=27 December 2010}}</ref> Individually, Watkins became Champion of the Thames in the annual championships, the [[Wingfield Sculls]].

In 2011, Watkins beat Grainger in the British Rowing Team trials.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishrowing.org/news/watkins-eye-catching-win-over-grainger-gb-rowing-team-assessment |title=Watkins in eye-catching win over Grainger at GB Rowing Team Assessment |publisher=British Rowing |access-date=6 November 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110827125051/http://www.britishrowing.org/news/watkins-eye-catching-win-over-grainger-gb-rowing-team-assessment |archive-date=27 August 2011}}</ref> They joined forces again in the double scull and continued their unbeaten run, finishing the season with another World Championships gold. Watkins retained her title in the Wingfield Sculls, setting a new record time.

At the [[2012 Summer Olympics|2012 London Olympics]], Watkins and Grainger broke the Olympic record in the semi-final of the double sculls. Subsequently, they won the final to take the gold medal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/18905853|title=Olympics rowing: Anna Watkins & Katherine Grainger smash record |work=BBC Sport|access-date=30 July 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Olympics 2012: Great Britain win four golds in 24 hours|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/olympics/19113242|work=BBC Sport|access-date=3 August 2012}}</ref>

Watkins was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours, for services to rowing.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=60367 |date=29 December 2012 |page=25 |supp=y }}</ref><ref>[http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/sites/default/files/resources/NY2013-honours-London-2012.pdf ] Cabinet Office</ref>

In August 2015, six months after the birth of her second child, Watkins announced her intention to return to competition, and to target the [[2016 Summer Olympics|2016 Rio Olympics]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rowing/33851612|title=Anna Watkins: London 2012 gold medallist makes rowing return|work=BBC Sport|date=11 August 2015}}</ref> Had she been successful, she would have been the first mother to represent Great Britain in rowing, and possibly the first woman to compete in consecutive Olympics whilst having two children in between.

In February 2016, she announced that she was pulling out of the British Olympic rowing programme for Rio 2016, citing her performance, saying "This is not a decision that I've taken lightly. I guess I would have always wondered about what might have been if I hadn't given it a go."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rowing/35545983|title=Anna Watkins pulls out of GB Olympic rowing programme|work=BBC Sport|date=10 February 2016}}</ref>

==Personal life==
In September 2009, she married Oliver Watkins, a part-time rowing coach, who was studying for a PhD in engineering at Cambridge, where the couple met.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/Olympic-medallist-weds-man-set-path-glory/story-12529111-detail/story.html#axzz2NnzKUnS1|title=Olympic medallist weds man who set her on path to glory|publisher=thisisstaffordshire.co.uk|date=30 October 2009|access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> The couple live in [[Wokingham]], where Oliver works for the [[McLaren]] [[Formula One]] team as a suspension specialist. Anna announced in March 2013, that the couple were expecting their first child, due in September 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rowing/21821551|title=Anna Watkins: Olympic rowing champion is pregnant|work=[[BBC News]]|date=17 March 2013|access-date=17 March 2013}}</ref> Anna gave birth to a boy which they named William James.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishrowing.org/news/2013/september/24/congratulations |title=Congratulations |publisher=[[British Rowing]] |date=24 September 2013 |access-date=3 January 2014}}</ref> Anna had a second boy in February 2015.{{citation needed|date=October 2017}}

Anna holds a PhD in mathematics from the [[University of Reading]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sport.reading.ac.uk/_students/bucs.asp |title=SportsPark &#124; BUCS &#124; British Universities & Colleges Sports |publisher=Sport.reading.ac.uk |date=28 April 2011 |access-date=6 November 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111003161740/http://www.sport.reading.ac.uk/_students/bucs.asp |archive-date=3 October 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.reading.ac.uk/web/files/maths/thesis_aw_final_june2017.pdf|title=A Moving Mesh Finite Element Method and its Application to Population Dynamics|date=June 2017|access-date=25 July 2020}}</ref>

==Achievements==

===Olympic Games===
* 2012 [[London]] – Gold, Women's Double Sculls
* 2008 [[Beijing]] – Bronze, Women's Double Sculls

===World Rowing Championships===
* 2011 [[Bled]] – Gold, Double Scull
* 2010 [[Lake Karapiro]] – Gold, Double Scull
* 2009 [[Poznań]] – Silver, Double Scull
* 2007 [[Munich]] – Bronze, Double Scull
* 2006 [[Dorney Lake]] – 4th, Double Scull
* 2005 [[Gifu, Gifu|Gifu]] – 5th, Eight

===World Rowing Under 23 Championships===
* 2005 – Bronze, Coxless Pair
* 2004 – Gold, Coxless Four

===GB Rowing Team Senior Trials===
* 2012 – 2nd, Single Scull
* 2011 – 1st, Single Scull

==See also==
* [[2012 Summer Olympics and Paralympics gold post boxes]]

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* [https://www.britishrowing.org/athlete/anna-watkins/ Anna Watkins] at [[British Rowing]]
* {{World Rowing|21387}}
* {{Team GB}}
* {{Olympics.com profile|org_archive=20210417083553}}
* {{Olympedia}}

{{Olympic champions – Women's double sculls}}
{{World champions – Women's double sculls}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watkins, Anna}}
[[Category:Alumni of Newnham College, Cambridge]]
[[Category:English female rowers]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Olympic bronze medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Olympic rowers for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Leek, Staffordshire]]
[[Category:Rowers at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:1983 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Olympic medalists in rowing]]
[[Category:Rowers at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Olympic gold medallists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2012 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Medalists at the 2008 Summer Olympics]]
[[Category:Members of Leander Club]]
[[Category:World Rowing Championships medalists for Great Britain]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from Staffordshire]]
[[Category:21st-century English sportswomen]]