An Olympic rower reported fearing an aggressive encounter with a motorboat operator on the River Thames near Maidenhead on Sunday morning. Jack Beaumont, who won a silver medal in the men’s quadruple sculls at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, said he witnessed a motorised cruiser potentially collide with a fellow rower before the situation escalated.

Beaumont, 32, was training on the river when he observed the boat apparently violating the Thames navigational rules by being on the wrong side of the river. Two rowers from Maidenhead Rowing Club in single sculls, approaching on the correct side, did not notice the cruiser until the last moment. One rower managed to avoid a collision, but the other struck the boat.

According to Beaumont, the boat operator then became verbally aggressive. “He started shouting at them. I was quite afraid he might hurt them,” Beaumont said, describing the man as erratic and volatile. Beaumont advised the rowers to record the boat’s name, which reportedly further provoked the operator, who then directed threatening language at Beaumont himself.

A video related to the incident shows the man using profane language, telling Beaumont to “shut the f*** up” and asserting “I did nothing wrong” while accusing the rowers of thinking they “own the water.” Beaumont said the boatman made swift maneuvers toward him, forcing him to move quickly to avoid being hit. The operator then circled back and approached again, causing Beaumont to sprint away before the boat eventually ceased the pursuit.

Beaumont, a long-time member of Maidenhead Rowing Club since childhood, stated that the incident was unprecedented in his experience. “Normally we get on really well with all the neighbours and everyone else. I’m very glad I got him away from the other guys, I was just trying to defuse the situation,” he said.

Maidenhead Rowing Club, which has been active on the river for 150 years, described the episode as a “serious and dangerous incident.” The club emphasized that safety on the water remains their priority and condemned behaviour that endangers any river users.

Thames Valley Police confirmed they arrested a 67-year-old man from Windsor on suspicion of criminal damage, threats to kill, common assault, a Public Order Act offence, and using a watercraft in a manner endangering others. The police said the man had verbally abused rowers and driven a white-and-blue boat dangerously on the Thames, making contact with a rowing boat and its occupant during the incident. The individual remained in custody as the investigation continued.

The identities of the other rowers and the boat operator have not been disclosed. Authorities and the rowing club continue to monitor the situation to prevent similar occurrences.