Tony Fox

Tony Fox was born on the Channel Island of Guernsey and learnt to row before leaving the island for schooling in England. Fox studied medicine at Pembroke College, Cambridge and, although never selected for the Oxford-Cambridge race, began to gain a reputation as one of the country’s top performers. His breakthrough year was in 1951 when he completed a treble of victories in Britain’s most prestigious races, namely the Diamond Sculls at Henley, the Wingfield Cup and the London Cup as well as winning the silver medal at the European Championships behind Erik Larsen. Fox’s progress to the final of the Helsinki Olympics was impressive as he posted decisive victories in both heat and semi-final but he could not reproduce these performances in the final and placed fourth. He regained his Diamond Sculls title in 1953 but placed outside the medal positions at the European Championship and the following year took a surprise victory at Henley, in partnership with Tony Marsden, over the Soviet double sculls pairing that had won the silver medal at Helsinki. Tipped to win a medal at the 1956 Olympics he failed to reach the final and after completing his medical studies he ended his rowing career. Fox returned to his home island to join his father and brother in their medical practice on Guernsey. After thirty years as a doctor he retired in 1989.