Rower in cycle bid for charity

WEST Pennant Hills gold medallist Rob Black will swap his boat for a bike this week.

Rob Black (left) pictured with U23 Men’s Quadruple Sculls World Championships teammate Tom Schramko. Pictures: Virginia Young

• The world at his feet
• In a league of their own
• Champion attitude nets gold

A WEST Pennant Hills gold medallist rower will set off on a bike this week to raise money for motor neurone disease.

Rob Black, who turned 21 in September, helped the under-23 men’s quad sculls to victory on day six of the World Rowing Championships in the Netherlands in August.

The Australian team of Black, Tom Schramko, Luke Letcher and Caleb Antill secured the win by just 0.41s over New Zealand.

Black said he was “pretty buggered” straight after the gruelling race.

Rob Black with his U23 World Championships gold medal.

“I didn’t have much energy left to express how happy I was, but as soon as the music started playing as I walked down to the podium, I perked up again and I felt pretty proud of myself,” he said.

Black, who trains at Mosman Rowing Club, won bronze with the men’s quad sculls at last year’s World Rowing Under-23 Championships.

After returning from Europe last month, Black has begun to coach rowing at The King’s School in North Parramatta.

“It’s good to be on the other side of the megaphone and tell other people what to do,” he said.

Black has also been preparing for his next adventure – a 1000km, six-day bike ride from Adelaide to Melbourne to raise money for the Motor Neurone Disease Foundation.

Black and four friends – including three rowers – will begin the Ride to Cure MND on Wednesday, averaging 170km a day.

“I’ve got to get myself into shape, I’m a little bit unfit but hopefully I’ll get there,” Black said.

The champion rower said he was inspired after seeing his friends complete the race last year, in honour of family friend, AFL legend and Cure 4 MND Foundation patron Neale Daniher.

Donate to the team here and follow the team’s journey on Instagram