Meet Steve Williams

21st March 2011

Meet Steve Williams OBE!

737 Challenge has been busy catching up with the two times Olympic gold medallist who will join Richard’s 737 Challenge next week to venture to the Geographic North Pole before climbing Mount Everest, the highest mountain on earth.

Here’s what Steve had to say about why he joined forces with Richard Parks and how climbing Everest has always been a childhood dream.

STEVE, HOW DID YOU MEET RICHARD PARKS?

After rowing I wanted to climb Everest and a mutual friend who knew I wanted to do this introduced us. It felt a bit like a blind date but we got on really well and by the end of the first meeting Rich asked me to join him on the 737 Challenge.

WHY CHOOSE TO CLIMB MOUNT EVEREST AND TREK THE LAST DEGREE TO THE NORTH POLE?

I have always had a fascination with Mount Everest. I remember when I was 12 years old, Steven Venables the first Briton to climb Everest without Oxygen came to my school and did a talk and showed pictures on Everest. That memory has stuck with me ever since. It totally captured my imagination and I have always wanted to climb it since that day. It was nice because our leader on Cho Oyu, Rob Anderson was actually part of Steven’s expedition team back then on Everest. Initially when I talked to Richard it was about Everest but after chatting and finding out more about his challenge I was thrilled to be able to join him for the North Pole too. Both are huge physical and mental challenges to prepare and complete and I love a challenge.

ARE YOU SCARED, EXCITED?

I’ve been getting excited since 18 months ago! It is daunting but I think it’s healthy to be nervous about what I am undertaking. I remember when I went to Sheffield and had my first chat with Jagged Globe (our expedition partner), talking about every aspect of Everest, on the way back on the train I felt nervous, fear, excitement, many things and that is still the case, but that is no different to how I have felt throughout my rowing career and I believe that having a real understanding and healthy respect about what you have ahead is a good thing. I can’t wait to get going though!

DO YOU FEEL FIT?

I feel fit and raring to go. I’ve got through all my blisters on my feet and I feel fit and strong.

YOU HAVE CLIMBED DENALI IN ALASKA, YOU AND RICH HAVE BEEN TO CHO OYU IN THE HIMALAYAS AND HAVE COMPLETED POLAR TRAINING IN GREENLAND AS JUST SOME OF THE TRAINING OVER THE PAST YEAR, BUT WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING DAY TO DAY TO PREPARE?

I have been doing a lot of indoor climbing, lots of long walks, long runs and longer ergos (indoor rowing machine).

AH THE ERGOS, SO YOU HAVE KEPT ON THEM THEN?

Everything I have done training wise to date has served me well so far, the ergos have kept my cardio levels up and legs and back in really good shape.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SAT IN A BOAT?

In anger, the last time was at the Beijing Olympics but since, I have done plenty of corporate and charity events.

DO YOU MISS IT AND DO YOU FEEL THAT’S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU AND RICH HAVE IN COMMON, THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE RETIRED FROM YOUR SPORTING CAREERS SO TO SPEAK?

I do miss it. It’s been such a big part of my life for 20 years and all of my life for the last 10 years. There is definitely a commonality about where we are in our lives and there is a natural affinity there, we can relate to each other a lot in that sense. We found that the day we met and instantly started talking about the situation we found ourselves in at that time, about what we were going to do after rowing and rugby.

DO YOU KEEP IN TOUCH WITH THE LIKES OF STEVE (REDGRAVE), MATTHEW (PINSENT) AND JAMES (CRACKNELL) AND WHAT DO THEY THINK ABOUT YOUR DECISION TO DO THIS?

I see the guys on the odd occasion but I tend to keep in contact with more of the guys who are still rowing and they think it’s quite funny that I am doing this. There’s a bit of a long-standing joke in the team that when I was rowing I would not walk anywhere unless it was absolutely necessary. I saw it more as “Energy Management” so they think it’s hilarious now that I am spending all my time walking.

I KNOW YOUR PARENTS ARE AVID SUPPORTERS OF YOUR CAREER AND ALSO FOLLOW RICHARD’S 737 CHALLENGE ON FACEBOOK, WHAT DO THEY THINK OF THIS?

They are really excited. My Dad is coming to Everest base camp which will be really special. He actually went to go to Everest base camp in 1995 but got food poisoning so he didn’t get there. They live in Australia and when I told them about what I was going to do, I did by Skype as I wanted to see them and talk to them face to face. I didn’t want to ask Dad to come to Everest base camp even though I wanted him to as I didn’t want to put him under any pressure to join me, and Dad didn’t want to impose and ask me! So Mum did what all good Mum’s do and encouraged him to tell me how he was thinking, he couldn’t wait to come along! He is 67 and is as fit as a flea! He’s really active and goes on long walks in Western Australia. It’s not like doing the Thames path, he goes out for days on end for hundreds of miles and Mum drives out to meet him in the middle of nowhere to replenish stocks and wash his dirty clothes! He is well prepared and I can’t wait for him to join me!

WHAT WILL YOU MISS THE MOST WHILST YOU’RE AWAY?

Katie (my partner) closely followed by Katie’s cooking, it’s so close, it’s a photo finish!

WHAT DOES KATIE THINK OF YOUR NEWFOUND HOBBY?!

Well, she used to joke she was a rowing widow, now she’s a mountaineering widow! She’s so supportive and I couldn’t have done this without her amazing support. She is anxious as most partners would be, but totally behind me and I wouldn’t be able to do this if it wasn’t for her.

WE ALL KNOW WHAT AN EPIC CHALLENGE IT IS ALONE FOR RICH TO PACK FOR EACH EXPEDITION, HOW’S YOUR GEAR COMING ALONG?

I am all geared up! A few more bits and pieces to get but I am pretty much all there and I have tested all the critical stuff. Obviously over the past year in training and on Cho Oyu and Denali I have got all my glove systems and things in place. The real point of contention in our house is there is so much kit I am running out of room to store it! We have a 4 bedroom house, but with all my rowing kit, now my polar kit and climbing kit along with Katie’s stuff (shoes, handbags, coats, dresses!!) finding where to store it all has been the biggest challenge!

HAVE YOU BEEN FOLLOWING RICHARD’S PROGRESS SO FAR AND HAS IT WET YOUR APPETITE FOR THE BIG DAY WHEN YOU SET OFF TOGETHER?

Yes every day I read his updates! It’s weird because when I went to Richard’s leaving Gala Dinner before he left it felt very strange seeing him leave knowing that I had a few more months of training still.

IT’S BEEN A GRUELLING SCHEDULE SO FAR FOR RICH, DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE A BOOST FOR HIM JOINING FORCES AGAIN AND WORKING AS A TEAM?

I hope so! We get on really well and I hope he’ll be pleased to see me! I am looking forward to seeing him and hearing about all his experiences so far and maybe if he’s a little tired I’ll be looking forward to seeing a quieter Rich than on Cho Oyu with a little less Banter!! Ha ha!

YES, HE DOES LIKE THE TALK AND BANTER DOESN’T HE?!

His banter is unbelievable! There is no point trying to compete as you just won’t win!

FINALLY, HOW PROUD ARE YOU TO JOIN RICHARD’S WORLD FIRST CHALLENGE AND HELP RAISE FUNDS IN AID OF MARIE CURIE CANCER CARE?

I am honoured to join Richard. What he attempting is just incredible. Having had a taster of things on Denali and Cho Oyu, it is just amazing what he is setting out to achieve and so far he has done magnificently. I have had the chance to live and work alongside him on the mountain, he is extremely tough and if anyone can do it, Rich can. I hope that we make some incredible memories on The North Pole and Everest and I am really proud to be part of his world first expedition and also that the 737 Challenge is raising funds for an amazing cancer charity in Marie Curie Cancer Care. It’s inspiring that not only is he doing something amazing but he’s helping people too and I am thrilled to be part of it. It is a fantastic cause, and I hope that everyone digs in their pockets if they can to make a donation.

THE STEVE WILLIAMS FACT FILE

Full name: Stephen David Williams OBE
Age: 34
Height: 6’2
Weight: 94 kilos now, 100 kilos during rowing career.
Lives: Henley on Thames.
Hometown: Born in Leamington Spa, originally from the West Midlands but has also lived in Bath and Cheltenham.
Olympic medals: 2 Gold medals in the men’s coxless four, Athens and Beijing Olympics.
World Championship medals: 4 Gold, 2 Silver.
First mountain climbed: First serious Mountain was Denali, also known as Mount McKinley in Alaska and one of the 7 Summits but climbed Snowdon at the age of 5 years old.
Highest altitude so far: Around 7,100m on Cho Oyu in the Himalayas.