Joseph Sullivan (left) and Nathan Cohen's London Olympics victory was voted the country's Favourite Sporting Moment at the Halberg Awards. Photo / Mark Mitchell
Joseph Sullivan (left) and Nathan Cohen's London Olympics victory was voted the country's Favourite Sporting Moment at the Halberg Awards. Photo / Mark Mitchell
London Olympic rowing gold medallist Joseph Sullivan knows about dealing with heat, so it seems appropriate the 27-year-old, who has announced his retirement, will join the fire service.
Nowhere in Sullivan's career was it more white hot than the London Olympic final on Dorney Lake after 500m, when he andrecently retired partner Nathan Cohen were last. Their race strategy was a treat to watch as they moved to fifth by the 1000m and fourth by the 1500m.
"I didn't really know what was happening," Sullivan said at the time. "Nathan told me to be calm. We knew the others would have to pay for it somewhere. Nathan said 'yip, go' at the 1500m mark and we went for it."
Thousands of kilometres eked out on Lake Karapiro were transformed into two golden discs.
The scene oozed serenity as they crossed the line. An easy release of the oars followed by a gentle raising of the arms. Hands were shaken and Sullivan slumped into Cohen's lap. Then, the normally reserved Sullivan stood up in the boat's narrow shell to survey the scene of their domination. The man's balance matched his chutzpah.
The victory was voted the country's Favourite Sporting Moment at the Halberg Awards and Joseph Sullivan Drive was added to maps of Picton, recognising the feats of the town's first Olympic champion. New Zealand had never had the world's best men's double scullers before Sullivan and Cohen came together in 2010. They were always top of the dais at season's end.
Yet the triumph was nearly scuppered. On arrival in Lucerne for the first 2012 World Cup they finished last in the B final. Trouble ensued. Cohen and Sullivan questioned how one of Rowing New Zealand's most promising crews could lose its aura in the off-season. The defending world champions' form collapse was solved two days before the final World Cup in Munich. They inadvertently examined the right oar blades and realised they'd warped in transit, something initially not obvious to the human eye. Normal propulsion resumed following repair.
Despite completing the 2013 coast-to-coast, Sullivan could not regain his rowing form and fitness. He was dropped from the squad last year before getting a reprieve; he missed selection this year. "I'm disappointed how the last 18 months panned out and retirement came sooner than I'd planned, but I'm proud of what I've achieved," Sullivan said. "Just being able to represent New Zealand and Marlborough in that way, and the reception I got from people afterwards was tremendous."
Sullivan met some firefighters while they competed alongside each other at the ANZA Challenge organised by the Halberg Disability Sport Foundation last year.
"It seemed a cool way to give back to the community. There's teamwork, everyone's got each other's back and they love their jobs."
Sullivan's 12-week training course starts this month in Rotorua.
Career highlights 2012 - Olympic Games gold in double scull 2011 - World championship gold in double scull 2010 - World championship gold in double scull 2009 - Under-23 world championship gold in double scull 2008 - Under-23 world championship gold in single scull 2007 - Under-23 world championship gold in single scull
