Tom became a world medallist at junior and senior level, and got his first taste of an Olympic Games when he represented GB in 2004. In 2007, he got his Beijing campaign off to a good start, winning bronze in the men's eight at the World Rowing Championships and silver in the men's four at the World Cup in Lucerne.

Even though he missed World Cup regattas due to injury, he passed a late fitness test before the World Cup finale in Lucerne. And then, in June 2008, he received the news he'd been waiting for - he was picked to race in the flagship boat - the men's four and the crew breezed through the heats, eventually winning gold.

James took up the sport after a knee injury meant he had to give up a promising running career. He won his first GB junior vest in the eight in Duisburg in 2001, winning a bronze medal in a thrilling finish. In 2002 he was selected in the four for the World Junior Championships which took the lead with 250m to go in the final but they were pipped on the line, taking a well-deserved silver medal.

James made his senior debut aged 19 in 2003 in the men's eight. The crew improved throughout the season and showed their class at the World Championships in Milan by qualifying for the final and the Athens Olympics by taking second place in their semi final, splitting the 2002 silver and bronze medallists. In the final, they raced in a leading pack of three, finishing with a bronze medal.

Yet, his Athens Olympics was ruined as a result of illness. He was part of the eight which took ninth place overall but could not compete in the semi-final.

In 2005, he took a year away from GB rowing to concentrate on his studies as an engineering student at Cambridge. He has raced four times in the Cambridge Blue Boat in the University Boat Race - in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007.

Now, with an Olympics gold medal to his credit, we can expect to see a lot more of the man in the spotlight. For further updates, use the tag below to get latest stories about Tom which we're bookmarking for you.

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