Dan Topolski
| Daniel Topolski | |
|---|---|
| Born |
4 June 1945 London, England, UK |
| Died | 21 February 2015 (aged 69) London, England, UK |
| Nationality | British |
| Other names | Dan Topolski |
| Occupation | Rower, rowing coach, commentator, author, travel writer |
Daniel Topolski (4 June 1945 – 21 February 2015) was a British author, rower, rowing coach and commentator on BBC television. He studied at the University of Oxford where he represented the Blue boat twice, in 1967 and 1968. In 1977, he won a gold medal at the World Rowing Championships. He coached the Oxford University Boat Club crew on fifteen occasions, leading them to victory twelve times, including a ten-win streak. He also coached British squads at two separate Olympic Games. After retiring from coaching he commentated on rowing at the Olympic Games and Boat Races.
The son of the Polish artist Feliks Topolski and actress Marian Everall, Daniel attended the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle in London, before going to Westminster School and New College, Oxford, where he read geography. He was taught sculling by his father, on Regent's Park lake in London, and captained Westminster School's rowing eight. While at Oxford, he rowed in the University Boat Race on two occasions. In the 1967 race, rowing at number seven, he helped Oxford to their third consecutive victory. The following year, this time rowing at bow, he suffered defeat. Relatively lightly built for a rower, he gained 24 pounds (11 kg) to qualify for the 1967 race.
Topolski's rowing career included a gold medal in the 1977 World Championships in Amsterdam, in the lightweight eights, and a silver medal in the 1975 World Championships in Nottingham, in the coxless fours. During his rowing career, Topolski appeared at the Henley Royal Regatta on 74 occasions, winning the Henley Medal four times.
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