About Daniel Topolski
Daniel "Dan" Topolski was a British author, rower, rowing coach and commentator on BBC television. He studied at the University of Oxford where he represented the Blue boat twice, in 1967 and 1968. In 1977, he won a gold medal at the World Rowing Championships. He coached the Oxford University Boat Club crew on fifteen occasions, leading them to victory twelve times, including a ten-win streak. He also coached British squads at two separate Olympic Games. After retiring from coaching he commentated on rowing at the Olympic Games and Boat Races. Topolski won the inaugural William Hill Sports Book of the Year in 1989 as the co-author (with Patrick Robinson) of True Blue: The Oxford Boat Race Mutiny. He won three Henley trophies, the Wyfold in 1969 and the Britannia in 1970 with London Rowing Club, and the Britannia for the second time in 1976 with Tideway Scullers. Of the fifteen Boat Races in which he was coach, Oxford won twelve including an unbroken run of ten victories between 1976 and 1985.
Biography source: Wikipedia. The profile adds birthday-specific historical context from the Celebs Birthday Today editorial database.