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Charles has represented Great Britain in rowing at the Olympics and World Championships. At 19, he was crowned World Champion in the Under 23 double scull. He went on to row in the London 2012 Olympic Games and was part of the team that earnt Britain’s first World Championship medal in the quadruple scull. 

Charles was introduced to rowing by a visit to his school from the GB Rowing Team Start Programme. He then went onto learning to row with the Rob Roy Boat Club on the River Cam in Cambridge.

During his time at the University of Reading, he trained with Team GB in Caversham, while also representing Reading University Boat Club (RUBC). In his first year, he competed with fellow RUBC member, Bill Lucas, in the double scull and won the gold medal at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships. Upon graduation, Charles focused on training full time and was selected to represent Team GB in the men’s quadruple scull at the London 2012 Olympic Games, where his team finished in fifth place.

Following London, he became part of a new line-up that included Reading alumnus Sam Townsend, Pete Lambert and Graeme Thomas. The crew secured Britain’s first ever World Championship medal in the men’s quadruple scull when they won bronze in Korea in 2013. They then set a new world record and won a silver medal at the World Championships in Amsterdam the following year. 

Charles played a key role in the team qualifying for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics but unfortunately had to withdraw several months before the Games due to an ongoing injury. 

Charles has now returned to training and has his sights set on competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

'Alongside my studies, the University enabled me to train in an environment that was supportive and inspiring, with all the resources I needed to develop and thrive as an aspiring international athlete.''

Charles Cousins

Charles cousins

BSc Psychology (2010)

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Subjects A-B

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Science
  • Anthropology
  • Archaeology
  • Architectural Engineering
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Engineering
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Building and Surveying
  • Business and Management, Accounting and Finance

Subjects C-E

  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Classical Studies
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management
  • Consumer Behaviour and Marketing
  • Creative Writing
  • Drama
  • Ecology
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environment

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  • Film & Television
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Foundation programmes
  • French
  • Geography
  • German
  • Graphic Communication and Design

Subjects H-M

  • Healthcare
  • History
  • International Development
  • International Foundation Programme (IFP)
  • International Relations
  • Italian
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Marketing
  • Mathematics
  • Medical Sciences
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Museum Studies

Subjects N-T

  • Nutrition
  • Pharmacology
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate Studies
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Psychology
  • Real Estate and Planning
  • Spanish
  • Speech and Language Therapy
  • Surveying and Construction
  • Teaching
  • Theatre

Subjects U-Z

  • Wildlife Conservation
  • Zoology

Subjects A-C

  • Agriculture
  • Ancient History
  • Animal Sciences
  • Archaeology
  • Architecture
  • Art
  • Biological Sciences
  • Biomedical Sciences
  • Business (Post-Experience)
  • Business and Management (Pre-Experience)
  • Chemistry
  • Classics and Ancient History
  • Climate Science
  • Computer Science
  • Construction Management and Engineering
  • Consumer Behaviour
  • Creative Enterprise

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  • Data Science
  • Economics
  • Education
  • Energy and Environmental Engineering
  • Engineering
  • English Language and Applied Linguistics
  • English Literature
  • Environmental Science
  • Film, Theatre and Television
  • Finance
  • Food and Nutritional Sciences
  • Geography and Environmental Science
  • Graphic Design

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  • Healthcare
  • History
  • Information Management and Digital Business
  • Information Technology
  • International Development and Applied Economics
  • Languages and Cultures
  • Law
  • Linguistics
  • Management
  • Medieval History
  • Meteorology and Climate
  • Microbiology
  • Nutritional Sciences
  • Pharmacy
  • Philosophy
  • Physician Associate
  • Politics and International Relations
  • Project Management
  • Psychology
  • Public Policy

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