SAM BLYTHE
Former Exeter Chiefs Captain
Fitness Matters Ltd Owner
Fitness Matters Indoor Rowing Founder and Performance Coach
Based in Exeter, Fitness Matters was founded by Personal Trainer Sam Blythe, a former professional rugby player with the Exeter Chiefs. The company operates a completely private, one-to-one personal training studio which also include a unique provision for indoor rowing.
Sam has a well established background in the sport of indoor rowing both as a performer, competitor and coach. He is one of a small group of non rowers to break the magical 6 minute barrier for a 2km, and at less than 5’10 in height, one of only a few to achieve that feat at under 6 foot tall.
In 2015 Sam took steps to expand the rowing side of his personal training business and Fitness Matters Indoor Rowing was founded. He currently now offers a wide range of services which include training and coaching (both 1:1 and virtually), operating a growing number of social media communities, as well as Captaincy of the FM Indoor Rowing Team, and hosting an increasingly popular 5km event on the race calendar.
A sporting CV’s go Sam’s is pretty lengthy, but specific to indoor rowing his achievements include:
- World Indoor Rowing Championships – Bronze Medal 2024 (45-49 HWT)
- European Indoor Rowing Championships – Silver Medal 2024 (40-49 HWT)
- Scottish Indoor Rowing Championships – Gold Medal 2018 (40-49 HWT)
- Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships – Gold Medal 2018 (40-49 HWT)
- World Indoor Rowing Championships – Silver Medal 2017 (40-49 HWT)
- English Indoor Rowing Championships – Gold Medal 2017 (40-49 HWT)
- English Indoor Rowing Championships Gold Medal 2015 (Open HWT)
- Welsh Indoor Rowing Championships – Gold Medal 2015 (Open HWT)
- British Indoor Rowing Championships – Gold Medal 2015 (30-39 HWT)
- British Record Holder 10,000m (30-39 HWT)
Keep up-to-date with Sam’s training and thoughts on all things rowing via Instagram @samblythe, Twitter @FMPTExeter and his blog https://fmrowing.com/sam-blythes-blog/
Personal Bests:
| Distance | Date | Time | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 500 | 25.12.13 | 1.19.3 | 1.19.3 |
| 1000 | 09.04.16 | 2.49.6 | 1.24.8 |
| 2000 | 05.12.15 | 5.59.8 | 1.29.9 |
| 5000 | 19.12.15 | 15.59.8 | 1.35.9 |
| 6000 | 09.1.16 | 19.34.6 | 1.37.8 |
| 9117 | 12.11.16 | 30m | 1.38.7 |
| 10000 | 15.3.14 | 32.57.2 | 1.38.8 |
| 17768 | 19.4.14 | 60m | 1.41.3 |
| 21097 | 30.4.16 | 1hr.12m.37.5s | 1.43.2 |
| 42195 | 26.4.14 | 2hr29m20.0s | 1.46.1 |
