Dani Rowe

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Dani Rowe
MBE
Rowe at the 2018 European Road Cycling Championships.
Personal information
Full nameDanielle Rowe
NicknameDani
BornDanielle King
(1990-11-21) 21 November 1990 (age 34)
Hamble, Hampshire, England
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Weight62 kg (137 lb)
Team information
Current teamRetired
Disciplines
  • Track
  • Road
RoleRider
Rider typeEndurance
Amateur team
2010–2012Horizon Fitness
Professional teams
2009Vision1 Racing[1]
2013–2016Wiggle–Honda
2017Cylance Pro Cycling
2018WaowDeals Pro Cycling
Medal record
Women's track cycling
Representing  Great Britain
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2012 London Team pursuit
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Apeldoorn Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2012 Melbourne Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2013 Minsk Team pursuit
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Apeldoorn Scratch race
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2011 Apeldoorn Team pursuit
Gold medal – first place 2013 Apeldoorn Team pursuit
Silver medal – second place 2013 Apeldoorn Points race
Women's road bicycle racing
Representing  Wales
Commonwealth Games
Bronze medal – third place 2018 Gold Coast Road race

Danielle 'Dani' Rowe (née King; born 21 November 1990) is a British former road and track cyclist. As a track cyclist, she is an Olympic gold medallist, three-time world champion, and two-time European champion in the team pursuit.

A team pursuit gold medallist from the London Olympics in 2012, Rowe also won three consecutive world titles in the women's team pursuit, winning in 2011, 2012, and 2013. She retired from cycling in December 2018.

Early life

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Rowe went to school at Hamble Community Sports College before attending Barton Peveril Sixth Form College. Her father, Trevor King, is a former biathlete who competed in two Winter Olympics.[2] She has a younger sister. Initially a competitive swimmer for her school, in 2005 she was tested by British Cycling at her school. Rowe was then selected to join the Talent Team, which was at that time part of British Cycling's Rider Route. Later that year she joined i-Team.cc cycling club where she trained and raced regularly in Portsmouth. In 2010, she came down with glandular fever whilst training to become an elite cyclist.[3]

Career

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In October 2010, Rowe began training with the national team after successfully progressing through a selection process run by head coach Shane Sutton. Three months later, she made her World Cup debut in Manchester. Rowe, Laura Kenny and Katie Colclough finished fifth in the team pursuit.[3] The following month, she became senior world champion in the team pursuit at the 2011 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Apeldoorn. Riding alongside Wendy Houvenaghel and Kenny, the trio overcame the United States in the final.[4] She also won a bronze medal in the scratch race during the championships.[5]

In October, she became European champion, triumphing over Germany in the team pursuit final alongside teammates Joanna Rowsell and Kenny.[6] The following month, Rowe won a silver medal in the omnium at the 2011-12 Track Cycling World Cup meeting in Astana. She won two of the events that comprised the Omnium — the individual pursuit and flying lap.[7]

In February 2012, Rowe, Kenny and Rowsell were victorious in the team pursuit at a subsequent leg of the Track Cycling World Cup in London. They also set a new world record time of 3:18.148 in the final. Houvenaghel rode in qualifying with Rowe replacing her for the final against Canada.[8] Rowe, Kenny and Rowsell defended Great Britain's world team pursuit title at the 2012 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Melbourne. They overcame Australia in the final with a world record time of 3:15.720.[9] At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Rowe won a gold medal in the team pursuit alongside Kenny and Rowsell.[10] The trio also set a new world record time of 3:14.051 in the final versus the United States.[11] In November, at the 2012–13 UCI Track Cycling World Cup meeting in Glasgow, Rowe, Kenny and Elinor Barker rode to victory against Australia in the final of the team pursuit.[12]

In February 2013, Rowe helped Great Britain defend their world title in the team pursuit at the UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Minsk. Rowe, Kenny and Barker secured victory against Australia in the final.[13] On the road, Rowe finished in third position in the British National Road Race Championships in June.[14] Returning to the track in November, she was a member of the British team that won team pursuit gold at the 2013 UEC European Track Championships in Apeldoorn. Great Britain also recorded a new world record time of 4:26.556 during the competition.[15] Rowe also claimed a silver medal in the points race.[16]

In November, Great Britain twice broke the world record for the team pursuit at the 2013–14 UCI Track Cycling World Cup meeting in Manchester. With the women's team pursuit having been increased to four riders riding 4 km, Rowe, Kenny, Barker and Rowsell won the event with victory over Canada in the final with a time of 4:19.604.[17] The following month in Aguascalientes, at the next leg of the Track Cycling World Cup, Great Britain broke their own record twice more as they again triumphed over Canada in the final. The team of Rowe, Rowsell, Barker and Katie Archibald beat their own world record set in Manchester by three seconds, posting a time of 4:16.552, assisted by the high altitude conditions in Mexico.[18][19]

After being involved in crashes on consecutive days, Rowe was unable to train fully and consequently missed out on selection for the 2014 UCI Track Cycling World Championships.[3] She then represented England at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. She finished eleventh in the road race, and on the track, she came fourth in the scratch race, seventh in the points race, and eighth in the individual pursuit.[20] In late June, at the British National Road Race Championships, Rowe finished runner-up behind Kenny.[21]

In November 2014, Rowe was involved a serious crash after hitting a pothole while training on roads near Merthyr Tydfil. She suffered a snapped rib cage and a collapsed lung and spent 10 days in hospital.[22]

In 2016, Rowe finished third in the Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race, fourth in the Women's Tour Down Under, and seventh in the Philadelphia Cycling Classic. She was overlooked by Great Britain for selection for the road race at the 2016 Summer Olympics.[23] In September 2016, Rowe signed for Cylance Pro Cycling for the 2017 season.[24] After one year, in October 2017 she announced that she would join WaowDeals Pro Cycling for 2018.[25]

In December 2017, Rowe announced that she was switching allegiance to Wales at the Commonwealth Games ahead of the forthcoming 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast. Explaining her decision, she stated that she has a "strong affinity and love" for Wales where she had lived throughout her professional career.[20] At the Games, she won a bronze medal in the road race.[26] In June, Rowe finished third overall at the 2018 Women's Tour. She suffered injuries in a crash on the penultimate day but was able to finish the race. Afterwards, Rowe stated that it was her "best result" on the road.[27] The following month, Rowe finished runner-up for a second time in the British National Road Race Championships after she was beaten by Jessica Roberts.[28] In December 2018, Rowe announced her retirement from the sport.[29]

Personal life

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Rowe is married to fellow cyclist Matthew Rowe.[30] They married on Saturday 30 September 2017 at Llandaff Cathedral. The couple live in Cardiff, Wales. In 2020, Rowe gave birth to a son.[31]

Honours and awards

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The Royal Mail painted a postbox gold in her hometown of Hamble to honour her gold medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.[32] Rowe was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to cycling.[33][34] She was given the Freedom of the Borough of Eastleigh in 2013,[35] where a cycle route in Hamble is also named after her.[36]

Major results

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Track

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2006
National Youth Track Championships
2nd Individual pursuit
3rd Scratch
2008
2nd Scratch, National Junior Track Championships
2009
National Track Championships
1st Derny
1st Madison (with Alex Greenfield)
3rd Individual pursuit
3rd Points race
3rd Scratch
2010
National Track Championships
1st Team pursuit
2nd Derny
2nd Madison
2nd Points race
3rd Scratch
2011
UCI Track World Championships
1st Team pursuit
3rd Scratch
UEC European Track Championships
1st Team pursuit
3rd Scratch race
UEC European Under-23 Track Championships
1st Team pursuit
2nd Omnium
National Track Championships
1st Team pursuit
3rd Scratch
2nd Omnium, 2011–12 UCI Track Cycling World Cup, Astana
2012
1st Team pursuit, Olympic Games
1st Team pursuit, UCI Track World Championships
1st Team pursuit, 2011–12 UCI Track Cycling World Cup, London
1st Team pursuit, 2012–13 UCI Track Cycling World Cup, Glasgow
2013
1st Team pursuit (with Laura Kenny and Elinor Barker, UCI Track World Championships
Team pursuit, 2013–14 UCI Track Cycling World Cup
1st Manchester
1st Aguascalientes
UEC European Track Championships
1st Team pursuit
2nd Points race
National Track Championships
1st Madison (with Laura Trott)
1st Team pursuit
2nd Individual pursuit
2nd Points race
3rd Scratch
2014
National Track Championships
1st Team pursuit
3rd Scratch

Road

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2009
1st Criterium, National Road Championships
2011
2nd Criterium, National Road Championships
2013
1st Milk Race
3rd Road race, National Road Championships
2014
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
3rd Overall Surf & Turf 2-Day Women's Stage Race[37]
2015
1st Overall Tour of the Reservoir
1st Stage 1
1st Bath, Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series[38]
10th Gooik–Geraardsbergen–Gooik
2016
1st Red Hook Crit
3rd Cadel Evans Great Ocean Road Race
4th Road race, National Road Championships
4th Overall Women's Tour Down Under
1st Mountains classification
5th Crescent Vårgårda UCI Women's WorldTour TTT
7th Philadelphia Cycling Classic
9th Overall La Route de France
2017
9th Overall The Women's Tour
9th Omloop Het Nieuwsblad
9th GP de Plouay – Bretagne
10th Women's Tour de Yorkshire
2018
2nd Road race, National Road Championships
2nd Overall Women's Tour de Yorkshire
3rd Road race, Commonwealth Games
3rd Overall The Women's Tour
1st British rider classification
10th Road race, UEC European Road Championships

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Brown, Gregor (2 January 2009). "Vision 1 Racing adds Dani King". Cycling News. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  2. ^ Beard, Matthew (30 July 2013). "Success stopped me being seen as a weirdo, says star Dani King". London Evening Standard. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Dani King: road to Rio can still be path to second Olympic track gold". The Guardian. 22 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  4. ^ "Final Results" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 April 2011. Retrieved 24 March 2011.
  5. ^ Richardson, Simon (14 December 2011). "Dani King: Rider Profile". Cycling Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  6. ^ "Results Women Team Pursuit Final" (PDF). domtel-sport. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  7. ^ Wynn, Nigel (7 November 2011). "Hoy scores sprint gold in opening Track World Cup". Cycling Weekly. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  8. ^ "Track World Cup: Great Britain win two golds at Olympic Velodrome". BBC Sport. 17 February 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  9. ^ "Brits destroy Aussies". Sky Sports. 7 April 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  10. ^ Bevan, Chris (4 August 2012). "BBC Sport – Olympics cycling: British women win team pursuit track gold". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  11. ^ Morton, Douglas (4 August 2012). "Team GB win gold medal in women's team pursuit with world record time – Cycling – Olympics". The Independent. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  12. ^ "Track World Cup: Two golds & silver for GB on opening night". BBC Sport. 16 November 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  13. ^ "World Track Cycling 2013: Barker stunned by World track gold". BBC Sport. 21 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  14. ^ "2013 British Women's RR Championship". velo.uk. 23 June 2013. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  15. ^ Rogers, Gareth (21 October 2013). "Elinor Barker and Owain Doull strike gold while Becky James wins bronze at European Track Championships". Wales Online. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  16. ^ "European gold and world record for British team pursuiters". Team GB. 18 October 2013. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  17. ^ Williams, Ollie (1 November 2013). "Track Cycling World Cup: GB win double team pursuit gold". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 May 2025.
  18. ^ "British women set new team pursuit world record - again". Cycling Weekly. 6 December 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2025.
  19. ^ Scott-Elliot, Robin (7 December 2013). "Cycling World Cup: GB women smash own pursuit record – twice". The Independent. Retrieved 22 June 2025.
  20. ^ a b Pavitt, Michael (12 December 2017). "Rowe announces aim to ride for Wales at Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games". InsideTheGames. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  21. ^ Hobro, Scott (29 June 2014). "Laura Trott wins British Cycling National Road Championships women's title in Abergavenny". British Cycling. Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  22. ^ Majendie, Matt (16 June 2015). "Dani King: 'It was just a freak accident but I thought I was going to die'". The Independent. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  23. ^ Braverman, Jessi (24 June 2016). "Gilmore disappointed by Dani King's absence from British Olympic team". Cycling News. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  24. ^ "Dani King signs for Cylance Pro Cycling". Cycling News. 21 September 2016.
  25. ^ "Dani Rowe signs for WaowDeals Pro Cycling – Women's news shorts". Cycling News. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  26. ^ "Commonwealth Games: Wales' Dani Rowe and Jon Mould win road race medals". BBC Sport. 14 April 2018. Retrieved 9 November 2025.
  27. ^ "Dani Rowe: Welsh cyclist celebrates 'best result' of road-racing career". BBC Sport. 18 June 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2025.
  28. ^ Rogers, Owen (1 July 2018). "Jess Roberts wins national road race title with last lap attack in Northumberland". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
  29. ^ "Dani Rowe: Olympic team pursuit gold medallist retires from cycling". BBC Sport. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  30. ^ Churchward, Sally (26 February 2013). "Hampshire Olympic cyclist Dani King talks about life after winning gold". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 19 October 2013.
  31. ^ "Back in the saddle". Action Medical Research. P&Co. Ltd. 14 June 2021. Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  32. ^ "Dani's delight at golden post box tribute". Daily Echo. 5 November 2012. Archived from the original on 11 November 2025. Retrieved 11 November 2025.
  33. ^ "No. 60367". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 2012. p. 25.
  34. ^ "NY13 - London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games" (PDF). Cabinet Office. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  35. ^ "Civic honours | Eastleigh Borough Council". www.eastleigh.gov.uk. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  36. ^ "Olympian Dani King honoured with cycling route". BBC News. 6 November 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2023.
  37. ^ "Surf & Turf 2-Day Women's Stage Race". British Cycling. 14 June 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2015.
  38. ^ Wynn, Nigel; Jones, Andy (12 June 2015). "Madison Genesis wins 2015 Tour Series after Bath finale (photos)". Cycling Weekly. Retrieved 12 June 2015.
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