Purchase was born in Cheltenham to Nicholas Purchase and Sara Holyer on 2 May 1986. Originally a competitive swimmer, Purchase started rowing in 1999 whilst a pupil at the King's School, Worcester. Whilst at school, he also passed Grade 8 on the Saxophone with a Merit. Following school, Purchase joined the British Rowing team as an U23 rower.
Rowing career
His main discipline was sculling with the majority of his international medals being won in the Lightweight Men's Double Scull with Mark Hunter. In 2002, Purchase won his first international medals, a gold and silver at the Coupe de la Jeunesse and competed at the World Rowing Junior Championships the following two years. In 2003, aged 17, Purchase won the Fawley Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta. in 2005, Purchase competed at the World Rowing U23 Championships in Amsterdam where he won a gold medal. He entered the Senior World Rowing Championships three weeks later and won a silver medal. Both medals were achieved in the Lightweight Men's Single Scull. By 2006, Purchase was a full-time member of the senior British Rowing, based in Caversham, Berkshire. The same year saw him suffer a ligament injury in his left wrist, which stopped him training between January – May. Regardless of this, his competed at the World Rowing Championships in Eton, Berkshire that summer and won his first World Championship title, achieving a World Record in the Lightweight Men's Single Scull. Following his success in 2006, Purchase moved to the Lightweight Men's Double Scull in order to train for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Purchase achieved a bronze medal with Hunter in this category at the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich, Germany. In 2008, Purchase went on to win an Olympic gold medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing following an incredible season where they won the World Rowing Cup. 2009 saw Purchase take a year out of the sport due to Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Purchase won another two gold medals at the 2010 and 2011 World Rowing Championships, in New Zealand and Slovenia respectively. He won his second Olympic medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
Life after rowing
Since retiring from rowing, Purchase has taken part in a number public events and TV shows, including Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, Ready Steady Cook, Three Men in a Boat and A Question of Sport. He regularly gives motivational speeches and hosts away days for businesses, schools and charities. He has also qualified as a Personal Trainer and now runs a fitness studio. On 27 November 2008, Zac Purchase officially named an eight rowing boat at The King's School, Worcester in honour of his Olympic Gold Medal win.
Personal life
Purchase was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2009 New Year Honours for services to sport and collected his award in June of that year. Purchase married long term partner Felicity Purchase-Hill, also a former pupil and rower at the King's School, Worcester, shortly after the 2012 Summer Olympics at St Paul's Cathedral in London. The wedding was covered by Hello, published in Issue 1242 on 10 September 2012. They have two daughters,the eldest of whom is Persephone.
Achievements
Olympics
2012 London – Silver, Lightweight Double Scull
2008 Beijing – Gold, Lightweight Double Scull
World Championships
2011 Bled – Gold, Lightweight Double Scull with Mark Hunter
