Mike Rowbottom Chief Feature Writer

Mike Rowbottom, one of Britain's most talented sportswriters, covered the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympics and Paralympics as chief feature writer for insidethegames, having covered the previous five summer Games, and four winter Games, for The Independent. He has worked for the Daily Mail, The Times, The Observer, The Sunday Correspondent and The Guardian.

Mike Rowbottom

Recent articles by Mike

Poland's World Championship opening win signals "new era" in volleyball

By Mike Rowbottom at Stadion Narodowy in Warsaw

FIVB President Dr Ary Graça has promised a "new era" in volleyball at the opening of the World Championships in Warsaw ©Getty ImagesA sell-out crowd of 70,000 in Poland's national football stadium here tonight to witness the opening match of the 2014 World Volleyball Championships between the hosts and Serbia after a lengthy, glitzy, pumped-up Opening Ceremony – an experience that the President of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), Dr Ary Graça, believes will prove a landmark for his sport.


Dutch celebrate home gold as World Rowing Championships witness nine world best times

By Mike Rowbottom

Six of today's eight finals at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam produced world best times ©Getty ImagesAs is their custom, Dutch swimmers wasted no time in reaching their home crew on the first of three finals days at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam – and there was special reason for celebration as the defending champions in the lightweight women's quadruple sculls had set the stands in a ferment by finishing eight seconds inside the eight-year-old world best set by China.










Aggar makes splash at World Rowing Championships as conditions calm

By Mike Rowbottom

Britain's 2008 Paralympic champion Tom Aggar made best use of the calm conditions in the AS single sculls at the FISA World Rowing Championships  ©Getty ImagesPara-rowers making their first appearance at the 2014 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam did not have to contend with the gusty conditions which all but turned the opening day into one of time trials rather than six-lane racing - and Great Britain's former Paralympic champion Tom Aggar took full advantage.


Sharp and Farah excel as the Barshim v Bondarenko show goes on

By Mike Rowbottom

Mo Farah sets a British two miles best at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Birmingham ©Getty ImagesHome fans in a capacity 13,000 crowd at the Diamond League meeting in Birmingham were rewarded today with an 800 metres victory by Lynsey Sharp over Kenya's world champion Eunice Sum, and a national best in the two miles from Mo Farah in his first track appearance of the season in Britain.