It may not have been motivational discussions about the Civil Procedure Rules that helped them become so successful, but several of Britain’s Olympic rowers have legal links of varying degrees.

One solicitor competed in Athens - Tracy Langlands, who reached the semi-final of the lightweight double scull, competing with Helen Casey. In 2002, the pair won a bronze medal at the world championships.


Ms Langlands works part-time in the wills and probate department of Henley firm Kealy Farmar & Co, and spends the rest of her time training. She joined five years ago from City giant Clifford Chance, where she specialised in Chinese commercial law.


Partner Richard Kealy said Ms Langlands ‘will have been disappointed with the result because she had high hopes’, but praised her for qualifying in an event that has only recently received Olympic status.


Elise Laverick, who won bronze in the women’s double scull, completed the two-year part-time graduate diploma in law this summer at the College of Law in London. Ms Laverick, the daughter of Worthing solicitor Peter Laverick, is going on to do a part-time legal practice course.


James Cracknell - part of the men’s coxless four - began the part-time diploma in 2002 at the College of Law but dropped out last year. Alongside him were Matthew Pinsent, whose great-grandfather, Sir Richard Pinsent, was the founder of what is now national law firm Pinsents, and Ed Coode, whose father Jonathan Coode is a consultant at leading Cornwall firm Coodes.


Mr Laverick, a partner at Bennett Griffin, was in Athens and told the Gazette he was ‘bursting with pride and crying with emotion’ when his daughter crossed the line.


Though she has a degree in music, Mr Laverick said: ‘It does look like law is the career she will follow.’


However, he predicted that she would continue rowing for at least the next two years and could go on to her third Olympics in Beijing in 2008.