Name: Lee
Nickname: Big Deal, Señor Watts, Swolebraham Lincoln, Fidel Lashtro
Date of Birth: 20/03/93
Height: 194cm
Weight: 91.7kgs
Eye colour: Brown
Hair colour: Light Brown
Rowing stats – personal bests:
2km: 6 minutes 4 seconds
5km: 16 minutes 20 Seconds
30 min: 1.42.3 = 8800m in 30 minutes at 20 strokes per minute
Star sign: Pisces
Home town: Fleet, Hampshire
Studied: Economics and achieved First Class honours
What made you choose rowing?
The then Senior Men’s Captain, who is now one of my best friends, recruited me on my first day of university. I had all the necessary physiological characteristics and the mental attributes necessary to succeed in the sport – plus the constant competition excited me.
What’s the best thing/worst thing about rowing?
The crew – the crew is everything in rowing and without them you’re nothing. You train, eat, sleep, study, party, and anything else you can think of, with the guys in your boat. They’re the ones that get you through the dark days, and believe me there are plenty of those.
The worst/hardest thing about rowing is getting the balance right and switching off. As a student on a high performance training plan, it’s important that once you step out of the boat and hit the books you’re fully focused on your studies.
How many Warwick Rowers calendars have you appeared in?
I’ve been in the last three calendars – 2013, 2014 and 2015 – plus I was the centrefold for the 2013 Calendar.
What has been the most surprising/scariest/flattering thing about the calendar?
The most surprising and flattering things have been the fantastic reception we have received worldwide. Our story is touching people from every corner of the globe, so it is nice to know we are really making a difference.
The scariest thing is knowing how many people are affected by homophobia in sport. But that’s why we’re here: to stamp that out once and for all!
What other sport do you like watching and/or playing?
I enjoy playing almost any sport to be honest. I’m a very active and high functioning person so I’d take running around over sitting on the couch any day! In the past, I was school football and basketball captain and I’m a Manchester United supporter.
Favourite food?
I love fish of all sorts. It’s so light, tasty, delicate and full of nutrients.
Person you would most like to have dinner with?
There are two people I’d love to have dinner with and I really cannot choose between. Steven Hawking: the man who has defied all odds and probably knows more about the world we live in than anybody else. The second would be Sir David Attenborough. I love his documentaries and if I could have any job in the world it would be his.
When you’re not in a boat what would be your dream mode of transport?
I’m always in the boat. A droptop Rolls wouldn’t go amiss though!
Where would you most like to go in the world?
I would love to travel to the most beautiful rivers in the world and row my single scull up and down them on a lovely, sunny day. You could be completely at peace with yourself and the world.
What’s your pet hate?
Selfish people who only ever put themselves first. They’re weak and don’t step out of their comfort zone. You can never rely on them and they are the first ones to stop trying when the going gets tough.
Do you have a secret ambition?
I do, but it’s a bit too cheeky to write on here 
What do you plan to do when you leave Warwick University?
As I graduated in Summer 2014, I am currently pursuing rowing full time at Molesey Boat Club (on the Surrey side of the river Thames). This year I have trialled for the GB squad and climbed the ranks at Molesey to produce the top scores in the club on the rowing machine, and I made ‘top boat’ for the Head of The River Race. My aim for the rest of this year is to win Henley. Next year, I hope to do a Masters at Oxford and row in the Oxford & Cambridge Boat Race. After that I want to attempt to break into the GB squad with a view to going to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.