Naomi Riches MBE DL
Rowing
As a child, Naomi didn’t desire or expect to be an athlete, let alone a gold medal-winning rower.
Diagnosed a with a severe visual impairment when she was very young, it was expected that Naomi’s life would be full of challenges and barriers.
Bullying at school and lack of support from teachers resulted in low self-esteem and poor exam results. Yet, she grew up with a strong desire not to be defined by her disability, by what others saw as a ‘problem’ or a reason she ‘couldn’t’.
Beyond the school walls, Naomi’s parents did all they could to support her passions and encourage her talents; but it wasn’t until college that Naomi found the demanding, challenging but brilliant sport of rowing. Then, seemingly out of the blue in 2004, she was asked to join the GB Adaptive Rowing Team.
During Naomi’s decade in the sport she won 6 World titles, a World Silver, a Bronze medal at the 2008 Beijing Paralympic Game, and at London 2012 Paralympics, she won Gold. At last proving to herself and the world that it is your abilities that define you, NOT you disabilities.
After winning her first two World Rowing Championships in 2004 and 2005, she joined Marlow Rowing Club, who she still competes for. She moved to Marlow in 2008 and after the 2012 games gave Marlow it’s Gold Post Box.
Retiring from elite sport in 2013 wasn’t the end to Naomi’s rowing adventures however, and in 2016 she set a new Guinness World Record as the first woman to row the length of the Navigable Thames in just under 48hours; as the same time raising £51,000 for a local Marlow charity.
Naomi has been part of the Marlow community since she moved here, supporting local businesses, charities and community events such as Marlow Town Regatta and Festival, and the Santa Fun Run.
Since 2020 she has been running her own business as an Inspirational Speaker, Facilitator and Coach; working with businesses, teams and individuals all over the UK and beyond to help them remove the barriers to their own success and achieve their full potential.
In 2023 Naomi became a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of Buckinghamshire, supporting The Countess Howe, His Majestie’s Lord-Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire.
If you want to book Naomi for a speaking engagement, brand partnership or something else please contact james@athletemedia.co.uk or call him on +44 7917 064705.