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

Bosbaan Lake awaits world's best rowers in Amsterdam

By Mike Rowbottom

Rowing at the 2007 FISA World Cup race on the speedy Bosbaan Lake course in Amsterdam, which will host this week's FISA World Championships ©Getty ImagesThe 2014 World Rowing Championships on Amsterdam's Bosbaan Lake, which start tomorrow, have already made waves with the chairman of the Dutch Organising Committee opening the Stock Exchange in the Dutch capital earlier this week and large billboard posters on display along the city-centre roads.

Lavillenie's pole vault win-streak falls to earth

By Mike Rowbottom at the Olympiastadion in Stockholm 

World pole vault record holder Renaud Lavlllenie experiences a rare defeat in Stockholm ©AFP/Getty ImagesRenaud Lavillenie's unique winning run of 22 pole vault competitions came to an abrupt and unexpected end here in the 1912 Olympic Stadium tonight as he failed to record a mark at the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Diamond League meeting.

Britain top European medals table as Mekhissi-Benabbad makes good

By Mike Rowbottom at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich

Mahiedine Mekhissi-Benabbab, disqualified in the 3000m steeplechase, returns to win gold in the 1500m ©Getty ImagesFive golds on the final day of the European Athletics Championships here - from Mo Farah, taking his third consecutive 5.000 metres title, Greg Rutherford in the long jump, the men's and women's sprint relay teams and the men's 4x400m quartet - left Britain top of the table with 12 golds and a total of 23 medals, four more than their previous best in 2010.

Perkovic, Lavillenie and Saladuha - a hat-trick of European gold hat-tricks

By Mike Rowbottom at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich

Sandra Perkovic of Croatia celebrates after winning a third European discus gold ©AFP/Getty ImagesCroatia's world and Olympic discus champion Sandra Perkovic had a packed and appreciative crowd all to herself here as she rounded off the action on day five of the European Championships, claiming a third European gold with a national record of 71.08 metres - the furtherest throw in the world since 1992.

Mekhissi-Benabbad puts his shirt, and foot, in his mouth as he is disqualified from European gold

By Mike Rowbottom at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich

Mehiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad clears the last barrier en route to a dq in the European 3000m steeplechase final ©Getty ImagesMehiedine Mekhissi-Benabbad confirmed his reputation as the enfant terrible of athletics here tonight as he was disqualified from what would have been his third consecutive European 3,000 metres steeplechase victory after he had celebrated down the final straight by ripping off his shirt and jamming it into his mouth as he cleared the final hurdle.

Great for Britain as Farah, Dasaolu and Porter take European golds

By Mike Rowbottom at the Letzigrund Stadium in Zurich

Mo Farah celebrates with a cow after winning European 10,000m gold ©Getty ImagesThe second night of the European Athletics Championships here turned out to be Great for Britain as they took three golds through Mo Farah, who finally declared himself fit in regaining his 10,000 metres title, James Dasaolu in the 100m and Tiffany Porter in the 100m hurdles.

Kiplagat and Amos are surprise packages in Monaco Diamond League meeting

Mike Rowbottom at the Stade Louis II in Monaco

Silas Kiplagat, who upset Asbel Kiprop's plans in Monaco to become the fourth fastest man ever at 1500m ©Getty ImagesSilas Kiplagat produced the shock result of the International Association of Athletics Federatons (IAAF) Diamond League meeting as he outsprinted the Kenyan compatriot who had been targeting a world record in the 1500 metres, Asbel Kiprop, to win in 3min 27.64sec, making him the fourth fastest man in history.