BIRTHDATE: 19 November,1978 HOMETOWN: Tauranga DISCIPLINE: Single sculls PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 1st London 2012, 3rd Beijing 2008. FACT: The flag bearer at the 2008 games, Drysdale had surgery on both forearms in December for compartment syndrome.
MEN'S PAIR
Hamish Bond
BIRTHDATE: 13 February 1986 HOMETOWN: Dunedin DISCIPLINE: Pair PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 1st London 2012. 7th Beijing 2008 (four) FACT: Bond has a Bachelor of Business (finance) and a graduate diploma in Personal Financial Planning.
Eric Murray
BIRTHDATE: 6 May, 1982. HOMETOWN: Pukekohe DISCIPLINE: Pair PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 1st London 2012. 7th, Beijing 2008 (four). 5th Athens 2004 (four) FACT: Was once warned by the Electoral Commission for breaching the Electoral act in 2014, for which Bond labelled him "a moron".
The New Zealand Men's Coxless Pair, (L-R) Hamish Bond and Eric Murray. Photo / Getty
MEN'S DOUBLE
Chris Harris
BIRTHDATE: 19 October, 1985. HOMETOWN: Wanganui DISCIPLINE: Double sculls PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 11th London (four) FACT: Born in Durban, Harris moved with his family to New Zealand when he was eight. Not the cricketer.
Robbie Manson
BIRTHDATE: 11 October, 1989 HOMETOWN: Blenheim DISCIPLINE: Double sculls PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 7th London (quad) FACT: Since moving into the double sculls in 2013, Manson has rowed with Michael Arms, his brother Karl, and now Chris Harris at international level.
New Zealand rowers Robbie Manson and Chris Harris. Photo / Getty
MEN'S LW FOUR
Alistair Bond
BIRTHDATE: 16 August, 1989 HOMETOWN: Dunedin DISCIPLINE: Lightweight four PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Bond, the younger brother of Hamish, only turned his attention fully to rowing after completing his studies at Otago University. He has a Bachelor of Surveying and a post grad diploma in Environment Management.
James Hunter
BIRTHDATE: 24 August 1992. HOMETOWN: Wellington DISCIPLINE: Lightweight four PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: A keen outdoorsman, Hunter is into fishing and skiing.
James Lassche
BIRTHDATE: 31 August, 1989 HOMETOWN: Darfield. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - DISCIPLINE: Lightweight four FACT: Recently married Leah Stanley, daughter of NZOC president and former rower Mike Stanley
Peter Taylor
BIRTHDATE: 3 January, 1984 HOMETOWN: Lower Hutt DISCIPLINE: Lightweight four PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 3rd, London 2012 (LW double) FACT: A keen golfer, Taylor worked full time as an auditor in for Deloitte before first being selected in the NZ rowing team in 2007.
James Hunter, Alistair Bond, Peter Taylor and James Lassche. Photo / Getty
MEN'S QUAD
Jade Uru BIRTHDATE: 20 October, 1987 HOMETOWN: Invercargill PREVIOUS OLYMPICS 11th four, London 2012 FACT: Jade and his fiancée Lucy are proud parents of Ziggy, the British bulldog.
George Bridgewater BIRTHDATE: 18 January, 1993. HOMETOWN: Wellington PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 3rd Beijing 2008 (pair). FACT: Bridgewater competed for Oxford in the 2009 Oxford-Cambridge boat race, before moving to Hong Kong and Singapore to work as a trader for Morgan Stanley.
Nathan Flannery BIRTHDATE: 22 October, 1992 HOMETOWN: Christchurch PREVIOUS OLYMPICS nil FACT: Flannery's partner is world champion lightweight sculler Sophie MacKenzie.
John Storey BIRTHDATE: 19 July 1987 HOMETOWN: Christchurch. PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 7th, London 2012. FACT: Storey was born in Cambridge, England before his family moved to Christchurch when he was 13
MEN'S EIGHT
Michael Brake
BIRTHDATE: 22 October, 1994 HOMETOWN: Auckland DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Brake followed in his father's footsteps when he started rowing for Westlake Boys High in 2008.
Isaac Grainger
BIRTHDATE: 26 May, 1992 HOMETOWN: Auckland DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Grainger is a product of Edgewater College in Auckland, where he was first coached by the current school principal Allan Vester.
BIRTHDATE: 29 April, 1993 HOMETOWN: Wellington DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Born in Wellington, Jones started rowing at St Peters College in Auckland and the West End club, the same club as Mahe Drysdale.
Alex Kennedy
BIRTHDATE: 13 October, 1992 HOMETOWN: Rangiora DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: The youngest of four siblings, Kennedy is studying journalism papers in his down time... (don't do it Alex!)
Shaun Kirkham
BIRTHDATE: 24 July, 1992 HOMETOWN: Hamilton DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Kirkham is a product of the prestigious Hamilton Boys High rowing programme, winning the Maadi Cup in 2009 and 2010.
Tom Murray
BIRTHDATE: 5 April, 1994 HOMETOWN: Blenheim DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: With Jamie Hunter, Murray pulled off one of the big upsets of the National Rowing Championship this year when they beat Hamish Bond and James Lassche in the men's pair.
Brook Robertson
BIRTHDATE: 19 February 1994 HOMETOWN: Nelson DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Robertson played lock for the Nelson College first XV alongside Crusaders halfback Mitchell Drummond, but his rugby career was cut short by shoulder injuries.
Caleb Shepherd (coxswain)
BIRTHDATE: 29 June, 1993 HOMETOWN: Hamilton DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Another who is keen to get into journalism when he finishes rowing, Shepherd coxed Eric Murray and Hamish Bond to another world title in the coxed pair in 2014.
BIRTHDATE: 14 March 1992 HOMETOWN: Wellington DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: The engine room of the eight, Wright is more than 2metres tall and weighs more the 100kg.
The New Zealand Rowing Mens Eight, Tom Murray, Shaun Kirkham, Michael Brake, Isaac Grainger, Brook Robertson, Joe Wright, Alex Kennedy, Stephen Jones and Caleb Shepherd. Photo / Getty
WOMEN'S DOUBLE
Eve Macfarlane
BIRTHDATE: 27 September 1992 HOMETOWN: Rangiora DISCIPLINE: Double sculls PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Macfarlane is a talented artist and grew up on a farm in North Canterbury.
Zoe Stevenson
BIRTHDATE: 19 June 1991 HOMETOWN: Tauranga DISCIPLINE: Double sculls PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: A two time world champion, Stevenson's dad Herb also represented NZ at rowing in the men's eight through the 1980s.
New Zealand rowers Eve Macfarlane and Zoe Stevenson. Photo / Getty
WOMEN'S LW DOUBLE
Julia Edward
BIRTHDATE: 20 February 1991 HOMETOWN: Rotorua DISCIPLINE: Lightweight double PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 9th, 2012 London FACT: Edward was named Bay of Plenty sportswoman of the year in 2014 after winning the world title.
Sophie MacKenzie
BIRTHDATE: 31 March 1992 HOMETOWN: Marlborough DISCIPLINE: Lightweight double PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Has a healthy eating and lifestyle website "MegsandSoph.com", with squash player Megan Craig.
The New Zealand Rowing Lightweight Women's Double Scull, Julia Edward and Sophie MacKenzie. Photo / Getty
WOMEN'S PAIR
Genevieve Behrent
BIRTHDATE: 25 September, 1990 HOMETOWN: Oamaru DISCIPLINE: Pair, eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Had intended to focus on her studies,, before being named in the elite summer squad in late 2014.
BIRTHDATE: 10 August, 1983 HOMETOWN: Hawera DISCIPLINE: Pair, eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: 3rd,London 2012. FACT: Rebecca's cousin Sonia was also a representative rower and is married to New Zealand Chef de Mission Rob Waddell.
The New Zealand Womens Coxless Pair, Genevieve Behrent and Rebecca Scown. Photo / Getty
WOMEN'S EIGHT
Rebecca Scown (see above) Genevieve Behrent (see above)
Kelsey Bevan
BIRTHDATE: 10 April, 1990 HOMETOWN: Auckland DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Bevan is a beauty therapist who's pug dog Marnie is a regular focus of her Instagram account.
Emma Dyke
BIRTHDATE: 30 June 1995 HOMETOWN: Timaru DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: A rapid rise for the baby of the crew, who is studying Veterinary Nursing.
Kerri Gowler
BIRTHDATE: 18, December 1993 HOMETOWN: Raetihi DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Gowler is a keen show jumper and likes to get back to the family farm in Manawatu.
Kayla Pratt
BIRTHDATE: 27 May, 1991 HOMETOWN: Auckland DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Pratt is a regular in the Waikato University crew for the Gallagher Great Race, winning four times.
BIRTHDATE: 30 June, 1992 HOMETOWN: Christchurch DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Helped the 2014 women's pair and under23 pair to world's best times.
Ruby Tew
BIRTHDATE: 7 March, 1994 HOMETOWN: Wellington DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Yes, Steve is her dad.
Francie Turner (cox)
BIRTHDATE: 6 April, 1992 HOMETOWN: Christchurch DISCIPLINE: Eight PREVIOUS OLYMPICS: - FACT: Turner has been the coxswain for multiple NZ crews, including a number of successful junior and under23 eights.
Rebecca Scown, Genevieve Behrent, Kerri Gowler, Grace Prendergast, Kelsey Bevan, Ruby Tew, Emma Dyke, Kayla Pratt and Francie Turner of the New Zealand Women's Eight. Photo / Getty
