The Late Bob Michaels (aka Panagis Michalitsianos)

Bob Michaels died in April 2004 whilst he was in his hotel room on the Westminster School J15 training camp in Florida. He suffered a sudden and massive heart attack, following a recent serious heart condition. Typically of Bob he had been adamant that he wanted to go on the trip, to stay involved with the sport he loved, and local doctors say he would have died instantly and without suffering.

Bob was a Greek Olympic oarsman when young, coming to Britain and coaching crews to Henley Royal and international success, as well as being the first captain of the Lea Rowing Club after the amalgamation of the five local clubs (he chose orange as their colour because nobody else would wear it). He became the British women's national coach from 1988 to 1992, during which he was also coaching Westminster School, and put together the first British women's crew to win an international sweep medal (Fiona Freckleton and Miriam Batten, bronze in Vienna, 1991).

He moved to Greece to become national coach from 1993-1995, then going on to Kephalonia, where he founded two new clubs, before returning to Britain to be nearer his family, and rejoining the Lea and Westminster School as a coach.  Bob had returned to the Lea Rowing Club in 2002 as Head Coach and was instrumental in strengthening both the men’s and women’s squads during his time at the club.

Bob Michaels was a true Lea man and will be sorely missed.

Previous International Honours.

• 1994 – Commonwealth Regatta, Ontario, Canada. Silver medal Women’s coxless pair - Patricia (Tish) Reid.
• 1992 – Olympic Games, Banyoles, Spain. Men’s coxless four – S Hassan. Women’s single scull – Patricia (Tish) Reid.
• 1989 – World Rowing Championships. Men’s coxless four – S Hassan.
• 1988 – Olympic Games, Seoul, S Korea. S Hassan 4th. World Rowing Championships. Silver medal Men’s lightweight coxless four - Richard Metcalf.
• 1986 – Match Des Seniors. Bronze medal Men’s lightweight coxless four – Richard Metcalf and Jerry Michalitsianos.
• 1985 – World Rowing Championships, Belgium. Quadruple Sculls – S Hassan and J Scrivener.
  1984 – Olympic Games, Los Angeles, USA. Women’s coxed four – Jean Genchi and Kate Ball. 5th Men’s eight – S Hassan.
  1983 – World Rowing Championships, Belgium. Men’s coxless pair – S Hassan and J Scrivener.  Coach Bob Michaels.

Henley Royal Regatta Honours.

• 1995 – Wyfold Challenge Cup. P.Brett, C.Collerton, J.Michalitsianos and R.Metcalf.
• 1992 – Thames Challenge Cup. C.Long, P.Brett, C.Collerton, T.Collerton, G.Campbell, J.Scrivener, J.McTeague, T.Purnell and T.Slade.
• 1987 – Britannia Challenge Cup. H.Bass, A.Johnson, K.Lynch, A.Kennedy, C.Collerton.
• 1984 – Grand Challenge Cup. S Hassan.
• 1983 – Britannia Challenge Cup. A.Jones, A.Johnson, P.Carter, J.McTeague and R.Milligan.
• 1983 – Wyfold Challenge Cup. S.Simpole, S.Hassan, J.Scrivener and S.Redwood.

National Championship Honours.

• 1997 – Men’s coxed four.
• 1995 – Men’s coxed four.
• 1991 – Men’s eight.
• 1987 – Men’s double, coxless four and coxed four.
• 1986 – Men’s lightweight coxless four and quad.
• 1984 – Men’s lightweight eight and coxed pair.
• 1982 – Women’s Junior coxless pair.
• 1981 – Men’s eight.
• 1980 – Men’s quad.

Men’s Head of the River Honours.

• 1990 - Page Trophy and 7th Overall. C.Jones, J.Michalitsianos, R.Metcalf, R.Thain, A.Slemeck, A.Johnson, C.Collerton, T.Collerton and G.Campbell.
• 1986 – Page Trophy and 12th Overall.
• 1983 – Page Trophy and 3rd Overall.