The New Zealand secondary schools who have produced the most Olympic Rowers. Photo / Paul Slater
The New Zealand secondary schools who have produced the most Olympic Rowers. Photo / Paul Slater
Since before World War II, New Zealand has been sending rowers to the Olympic Games. Single Sculler Darcy Hadfield travelled by boat to Antwerp, Belgium, in 1920 and won bronze.
More than a century later, this trailblazer’s legacy has ignited the sport, making it Aotearoa’s mostdecorated Olympic event with 29 medals, including 14 golds.
Much of this success is owed to secondary schools and their crucial role in developing many of these athletes. These schools have become prestigious, and known for producing exceptional rowing talent.
Following the Paris 2024 games, the Herald has mapped the schools of every Kiwi Olympic rower over the last 40 years, starting from when New Zealand sent both male and female boats to the Los Angeles games. The interactive graphic below allows rowers and fans to see how their school ranks, showcasing which schools can claim the ultimate on-water bragging rights.
St Bede’s College in Christchurch holds the top spot for producing the most Olympians, with six former students competing in the Games. Following closely are Westlake Boy’s High School and Whanganui High School, each with five Olympians.
Taikura Rudolf Steiner School stands out as the most successful Olympic rowing school, a notable irony given its education system’s non-competitive philosophy. The school’s claim to fame is the Evers-Swindell twins, Caroline and Georgina, who won double sculls world titles in 2002, 2003, and 2005, and Olympic gold medals in 2004 and 2008.
St Bede’s pupils first featured at the Los Angeles Games in 1984, former student Les O’Connell won first place in the coxless four, while Don Symon secured third place in the coxed four. George Keys also earned third place in the coxed four in 1988. Pat Peoples competed in the coxless four in 1992, finishing in sixth place, and Dave Schaper placed fifth in the coxless pair in 1996. Scott Brownlee achieved sixth place in the four in 2000.
In recent years, St Bede’s College has been under scrutiny for off-water incidents. In 2015 two boys were banned for riding on the baggage carousel at Auckland Airport, egged on by their teammates. In 2017, several rowers were sent home from the Maadi Cup for inappropriate social media activity, as four boys were allegedly harassing a female rower at the regatta.
Members of the St Bede's College 1 under-18 eight+ team compete in a race at Lake Karapiro for the Maadi Cup in 2015. Photo / Christine Cornege
Despite the disciplinary occurrences, St Bede’s rector, Jon McDowall told the Herald they have a comprehensive programme that is led “exceptionally” well by their rowing club head coach, Dale Maher.
“It comprises staff and parents, we have 40 rowers in the squad, and the numbers are growing.”
