Rory Gibbs, a 30-year-old rower from Henley, took a brief break from his Olympic celebrations to return home for a haircut before heading back to Paris for the closing ceremony.
Gibbs, who resides on Greys Road, played a key role in the men’s eight crew that secured gold for Team GB. After celebrating with friends and family, he traveled back to Henley via Eurostar last Monday.
He visited his grandfather, Michael Friend, who lives in Surrey but couldn’t attend the games due to mobility issues. Gibbs also got a haircut at Cut UK in Duke Street, a place he has frequented for about five years.
“I wanted to keep my hair looking fresh,” Gibbs said. “Even though my hairline is starting to retreat, I trust the team at Cut UK to handle it well. They’ve followed my journey, so it was exciting to show them my medal, and they loved it.”
During his visit, Gibbs ran into a fellow rowing enthusiast at the barbershop who had also competed at Henley Royal Regatta and attended Oxford Brookes University.
Returning to Henley before the closing ceremony offered Gibbs a peaceful break from the intensity of winning gold. “Catching up with my grandad and having a few days without commitments was nice,” he said. “It’s been a whirlwind couple of weeks, and I can’t believe it’s already been over a week since the final.”
Reflecting on the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, where the men’s eight missed out on a medal, Gibbs expressed pride in making amends. “It’s a huge sense of pride, but I feel a sense of peace,” he noted. “Racing after Tokyo and getting the result we wanted in Paris was a great experience.”
Gibbs admitted he had considered ending his rowing career after Tokyo but decided to continue. “Coming home and taking some time off helped me realize I wanted to keep going,” he said. “The last three years have made me more resilient. I’m not afraid of change, though I haven’t planned what comes next.”
Despite fewer COVID-19 restrictions this year, Gibbs opted out of visiting the French embassy and meeting royalty to avoid potential health risks. “The pandemic caused a lot of anxiety, especially with cases among my crew members,” he explained. “I tried to mitigate risks and even took supplements to boost my immune system.”
In Paris, Gibbs was supported by family and friends who stayed in an Airbnb and explored the city, including Disneyland Paris. “I tried not to think about the people watching me and focused on performing well,” he said. “The Games are a different experience, and it was emotional for everyone involved.”
After the race, Gibbs felt “absolutely destroyed” but managed to collect his gold medal with his teammates before heading to Team GB’s house. He spent the next day sightseeing and enjoyed watching the men’s 100m final, where Noah Lyles won by a narrow margin.
“The last few weeks have been amazing,” Gibbs said. “Rowing doesn’t often get much attention, so it felt special to be in the spotlight.”
He humorously recalled trying to get free champagne by showing his medal, succeeding only on his third attempt. “It was a fun way to celebrate,” he said.
Visiting his grandfather, affectionately called “Mike-Pa,” was significant for Gibbs. “Grandad couldn’t travel to Paris, but he organized a party with his friends to celebrate,” Gibbs shared.
After his haircut, Gibbs returned to Paris on Thursday to attend the Olympic closing ceremony. He spent the time until then sightseeing with his girlfriend, Holly Stack.
“The closing ceremony was long with a lot of waiting, but being on the track with 90,000 people was special,” Gibbs said. “The light show was impressive, and I felt emotional, knowing it was the culmination of seven years of commitment. I even got to shake hands with Tom Cruise before he left on a motorbike.”