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Olympics

You are in: Gloucestershire > Olympics > Spotlight: Zac Purchase

Gold medal winner, Zac Purchase (Getty image)

Zac Purchase (Getty image)

Spotlight: Zac Purchase

Let us introduce the athletes, linked with Gloucestershire, who took part in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing. Here we turn the spotlight on Gold-medalist Zac Purchase, a rower from Tewkesbury. He faces a few quirky questions...

"Obviously being a saxophonist I wouldn't be a lead guitarist or a lead singer."

Zac Purchase

If money was no object, what would be the first thing you would buy?

Probably a nice car. I'd probably go for something quite relaxing and quite classy but also quite fast...such as an Aston (Martin) or what I'd really like is an E-type Jag.

Can you explain cricket?

Lots of people standing around wearing white clothes and hitting a ball which is red...and they use willow. At school I tended to be the sort of person who sat around on the edge, waiting for the ball to come near me...but because the school weren't really so good at cricket, the ball never came near me and so I tended to fall to sleep.

Gold medal winner, Zac Purchase (Getty image)

Zac Purchase & Mark Hunter

What's been your worst fashion crime?

It's probably happened fairly recently to be honest. Out on training camp we had a Murder Mystery evening and my character description was that I needed to wear some skinny-fit black jeans. I didn't have any with me so I had to go and buy some. There was a car boot sale down the road and I managed to find some size 14 black skinny jeans. That's pretty much as bad as you get!

Which charity do you support?

I make donations here and there but I don't have any montly direct debits or anything like that.

What's your favourite biscuit?

It would be a toss-up between Custard Cream and Bourbons I think.

Can you play a musical instrument?

I'm a saxophonist. Got a Grade 8 at school and passed that with a merit.

If you could be in a band, which one would you choose?

If I was actually playing in it I'd probably pick something either blues or jazzy. Obviously being a saxophonist I wouldn't be a lead guitarist or a lead singer.

Which two of your team mates would you want with you on a quiz team?

I'd pick my coach, Darren Whiter - in fact, he even set the quiz in our last training camp. I'd also probably pick Mark (Hunter), my doubles partner, because he knows a lot of stuff about current music and film which Darren doesn't know. I'd be the scribe and writing stuff down because I don't know anything.

Zac Purchase (Getty image)

Zac Purchase

What is the last book you read?

I've just finished 'The Afghan', by Frederick Forsyth. I've only read a few of his books. They seem to be roughly based on fact which is quite good. I'm a bit of a crime reader myself and I like that sort of thing so it was a good book.

Has your sport ever brought you to tears?

On a few occasions - both happy and sad. It's always an emotional response to an event that has happened, either winning, or having a bad session or just being generally stressed about things going badly.

If there was one rule (in rowing) or law you could change what would it be?

To be honest I think everything is run fairly well. I've never really fallen foul of any rules and never seen any cause to doubt them or to want to change them. They seem to be fairly good.

Where in the world is the best night out?

London. After the World Championships in Dorney (Lake) in 2006 I'd just come away with the gold medal and the World Record there and to be honest it was a fantastic night out and I don't remember that much of it.

last updated: 08/10/2008 at 09:48
created: 31/07/2008

Have Your Say

Send Zac a message...

Howard J Clinkard
Many, many congratulations to you and Mark on your fantastic achivement winning the Gold medal at the Olympics. I was so exciting watching this morning and yelling you on. It was also good to see your dad and grandmother (Auntie Mary to me) being interviewed - she was so overcome with emotion when you had won. With all good wishes and congratulations again from me, my parents (Harold and Ann) Judith, my wife and Thomas our son. Even distant cousins keep up with your achievements - may there be many more. Best wisehs, Howard

The Fowkes Family
Congratulations Zac Fantastic race and moving medal ceremony. Al proud of you and Mark

Kelly from Kentucky
Mark Hunter and Zac Purchase make me want to row!!!!!! Best to you both today!

Sandy Johnson
Hi Zac - must admit I hadn't heard of you but I am an employee of one of your cousins and am now following your progress with great interest. I wish you & your partner all the very best and hope you bring gold back to GB. GOOD LUCK!

Howard Clinkard
Hi! I'm a distant cousin so have been following your progress over the past couple of years. I watched you this morning winning the lightweight double sculls and will be rooting for you in the semis and hopefully in the finals. Good Luck to you both.

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