Hereworth hosts an evening with Rob Waddell

Rob Waddell will be talking about his sporting experiences and more at the upcoming Hereworth School fundraiser. Photo / supplied

Olympic rowing and America's Cup legend Rob Waddell will be in Hawke's Bay next month to speak at an upcoming Hereworth School fundraiser.

Hereworth School's marketing co-ordinator Nicola Pentelow said it was an exciting coup for the school to secure Waddell for the evening.

"He was meant to be coming for another event that was cancelled - one of our old boys knows him personally and was able to swing a bit of influence to get him here - we are pretty excited he is coming."

The Chef de Mission for New Zealand's Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams, Waddell was known to be an inspirational speaker who drew on his own sporting challenges and successes to motivate others.

He first made a name for himself on the New Zealand sporting stage in 1995 when he was the youngest person ever to win the single sculls title at the New Zealand Championships, something he achieved as a novice sculler.

Over the next two years he won the world championships in Germany and Canada, breaking records on the water. His rowing career was topped off by Olympic Gold at Sydney 2000.

Waddell was the first recipient to win the Sportsperson of the Year Supreme Halberg Award for three consecutive years, a feat only shared by one other person.

As Chef de Mission of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games teams, he was involved in the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, followed by the Olympics in Rio in 2016.

He was also a key part of three America's Cup sailing teams, culminating in the nail-biting performance that Emirates Team New Zealand produced in the final of the 2013 America's Cup.

On Thursday, August 16, Pentelow said Waddell's sporting exploits would be woven into the event, the ticket price for which would include drinks and canapes prepared by school chef Paolo Pancotti.

The 18 years and over evening will run from 6.30pm to 8.30pm and tickets cost $50, available through the school office.