Clint Robinson
Encyclopedia
Clint Robinson (born 27 July 1972 in Brisbane, Queensland) is an Australia
n sprint kayaker
and surf lifesaver who has won a complete set of medals at the Summer Olympics (gold: 1992
K-1 1000 m, silver: 2004
: K-2 500 m, bronze: 1996
K-1 1000 m).
Robinson grew up in Nambour
on the Sunshine Coast
of Queensland. A junior surf lifesaving champion, he won the Cadet Malibu Board Race at the 1987 National Surf Lifesaving Championships and the following year he was invited to train with the Australian Olympic kayak squad. Robinson would go onto to compete in five Summer Olympics.
Clint Robinson became Australia’s first canoe / kayak gold medallist when he defeated the Norwegian World Champion Knut Holmann
to win the K-1 1000 m final at Barcelona
in 1992
. Robinson paddled magnificently in his Barcelona final, holding off sustained challenges from Greg Barton (US) and Marin Popescu (Romania), then emptying every reserve of energy in a finish that edged out the favourite Holmann. Afterwards he was so dehydrated that he was unable to produce a urine sample for doping
analysis for six hours. Four years later in Atlanta
, he lined up against Holmann again in the K-1 1000 m and led early, but finished with the bronze. In Athens
in 2004
, Robinson teamed with Nathan Baggaley
to win a silver medal in the K-2 500 m.
At the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, Robinson won four medals with a gold (K-1 1000 m: 1994
), two silvers (K-1 1000 m: 1995
, K-4 10000 m: 1991
), and a bronze (K-2 500 m: 1994).
Robinson, awarded an OAM for the finest national championship record of any surf lifesaver (when his gold-medal tally reached 30), was also a promising young rugby league footballer
, but from the time he was 12 his ambition in sport never deviated. In that year, 1984, he was watching the Los Angeles Games
on television when his father asked him what he wanted to do with his life. Back came the answer: “I want to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal.”
Robinson competed in the Uncle Toby's Super Series
(Professional Iron Man circuit) from 1989-1995 and domated both the board and ski legs of the races. Due to his heavy training regime for kayaks, Clint had little time to train for swimming and running and his performances on the Iron Man circuit suffered due to this.
Robinson has continued to compete in surf lifesaving winning a place on the Australian teams of 1993, 1995 and 1999. In 1999, he surpassed Trevor Hendy
's record of 23 national titles to become the most successful Australian surf lifesaver ever. By 2008, he had extended his tally to 36 titles. He was inducted into the Surf Lifesaving Hall of Fame in 2004.
Robinson is now head coach of Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n sprint kayaker
Canoe racing
This article discusses canoe sprint and canoe marathon, competitive forms of canoeing and kayaking on more or less flat water. Both sports are governed by the International Canoe Federation ....
and surf lifesaver who has won a complete set of medals at the Summer Olympics (gold: 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
K-1 1000 m, silver: 2004
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
: K-2 500 m, bronze: 1996
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
K-1 1000 m).
Robinson grew up in Nambour
Nambour, Queensland
The area now known as Nambour, was first settled in 1870. The town was then called Petrie's Creek. In 1890 the Maroochy Divisional Board was established...
on the Sunshine Coast
Sunshine Coast, Queensland
The Sunshine Coast is an urban area in South East Queensland, north of the state capital of Brisbane on the Pacific Ocean coastline. Although it does not have a central business district, by population it ranks as the 10th largest metropolis in Australia and the third largest in...
of Queensland. A junior surf lifesaving champion, he won the Cadet Malibu Board Race at the 1987 National Surf Lifesaving Championships and the following year he was invited to train with the Australian Olympic kayak squad. Robinson would go onto to compete in five Summer Olympics.
Clint Robinson became Australia’s first canoe / kayak gold medallist when he defeated the Norwegian World Champion Knut Holmann
Knut Holmann
Knut Holmann is a Norwegian sprint canoer competed from the early 1990s to the early 2000s. Competing in four Summer Olympics, he won six medals...
to win the K-1 1000 m final at Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
in 1992
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
. Robinson paddled magnificently in his Barcelona final, holding off sustained challenges from Greg Barton (US) and Marin Popescu (Romania), then emptying every reserve of energy in a finish that edged out the favourite Holmann. Afterwards he was so dehydrated that he was unable to produce a urine sample for doping
Doping (sport)
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in sport is commonly referred to by the term "doping", particularly by those organizations that regulate competitions. The use of performance enhancing drugs is mostly done to improve athletic performance. This is why many sports ban the use of performance...
analysis for six hours. Four years later in Atlanta
1996 Summer Olympics
The 1996 Summer Olympics of Atlanta, officially known as the Games of the XXVI Olympiad and unofficially known as the Centennial Olympics, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1996 in Atlanta, Georgia, United States....
, he lined up against Holmann again in the K-1 1000 m and led early, but finished with the bronze. In Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
in 2004
2004 Summer Olympics
The 2004 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXVIII Olympiad, was a premier international multi-sport event held in Athens, Greece from August 13 to August 29, 2004 with the motto Welcome Home. 10,625 athletes competed, some 600 more than expected, accompanied by 5,501 team...
, Robinson teamed with Nathan Baggaley
Nathan Baggaley
Nathan Baggaley is an Australian sprint canoer and surfski champion. He is a three-times world champion in the K-1 500 m events and has also won two Olympic silver medals. His career has been tarnished by drug scandal.-Career summary:He made his international debut for Australia in 1997, initially...
to win a silver medal in the K-2 500 m.
At the ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships, Robinson won four medals with a gold (K-1 1000 m: 1994
1994 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1994 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Mexico City, Mexico for the second time at neighboring Xochimilco. The Mexican city had hosted the event previously in 1974 at the same venue that hosted the canoeing and rowing competitions for the 1968 Summer Olympics.The men's...
), two silvers (K-1 1000 m: 1995
1995 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1995 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Duisburg, Germany for the third time. The German city had hosted the event previously in 1979 and 1987 when it was part of West Germany....
, K-4 10000 m: 1991
1991 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships
The 1991 ICF Canoe Sprint World Championships were held in Paris, France.The men's competition consisted of eight Canadian and nine kayak events. Five events were held for the women, all in kayak...
), and a bronze (K-2 500 m: 1994).
Robinson, awarded an OAM for the finest national championship record of any surf lifesaver (when his gold-medal tally reached 30), was also a promising young rugby league footballer
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, but from the time he was 12 his ambition in sport never deviated. In that year, 1984, he was watching the Los Angeles Games
1984 Summer Olympics
The 1984 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Los Angeles, California, United States in 1984...
on television when his father asked him what he wanted to do with his life. Back came the answer: “I want to go to the Olympics and win a gold medal.”
Robinson competed in the Uncle Toby's Super Series
Uncle Toby's Super Series
The Uncle Toby's Super Series was a professional Iron Man circuit that ran from 1989 to 2001. It was considered by many to be the pinnacle of Surf Lifesaving and inspired many young kids to become involved in the sport...
(Professional Iron Man circuit) from 1989-1995 and domated both the board and ski legs of the races. Due to his heavy training regime for kayaks, Clint had little time to train for swimming and running and his performances on the Iron Man circuit suffered due to this.
Robinson has continued to compete in surf lifesaving winning a place on the Australian teams of 1993, 1995 and 1999. In 1999, he surpassed Trevor Hendy
Trevor Hendy
Trevor Hendy is a former Australian professional surf lifesaver.Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, Hendy dominated Ironman races, winning the Australian Championship 6 times and coming second on 3 occasions. He also won the Uncle Toby's Super Series 4 times...
's record of 23 national titles to become the most successful Australian surf lifesaver ever. By 2008, he had extended his tally to 36 titles. He was inducted into the Surf Lifesaving Hall of Fame in 2004.
Robinson is now head coach of Maroochydore Surf Life Saving Club.