Record-breaking rower Miguel Lopez Dittmar is celebrating another major achievement, after graduating with a first-class degree from Lancaster University.

The new Mathematics and Computer Science graduate broke a British record for the longest distance rowed indoors in 24 hours, along with three friends.

He now plans to continue rowing at a competitive level at Leeds Rowing Club, and will soon take up his role as a DevOps engineer at Sky.

Miguel joined Grizedale College in 2016, and is also a proud member of Lancaster University Boat Club (LUBC) and Lancaster University Swimming and Water Polo (LUSWP).

As an effort to raise money and awareness for LUBC, and as a personal challenge, Miguel was involved with a group of athletes who decided they wanted to attempt to break a number of British and world records, in several categories for the 24-hour non-stop indoor rowing challenge.

Miguel said: “As a team we had done several 24-hour indoor rowing challenges for charity, and when I was offered the chance to do a more difficult challenge with a possibility to break a record with an elite team I couldn’t say no. Getting this done meant a lot to the club and to me as an athlete.”

The challenge took place at the end of March 2019, and the teams managed to break four British records and two world records in various categories. The teams set up four rowing machines at the boat house, taking part in non-stop relays for 24 hours. Miguel’s group broke the British record in the small team male, 20-29 heavyweight category, with a distance of 378,827 metres.

Miguel said: “This challenge was the most demanding I have ever done, I didn’t realise how much physical and mental strength it required. There was not enough time to rest or eat between intervals, and the hardest hours were the ones in the early morning. I couldn’t be prouder of every one of us that stuck to the plan and gave our all to achieve the records. It would have been impossible without such a supportive and committed team.”

Miguel said he had loved his time at Lancaster, and said: “After five years in Lancaster I can say it was an incredible place to study and to live. I have met so many amazing people and tried several new things like rowing, that it turns out I love doing. With all the services the University offers I managed to graduate and get a job as soon as I finished, so I can only be grateful to Lancaster and I am sure I will be visiting.”