Drew Ginn
Encyclopedia
Drew Cameron Ginn, OAM
, (born 20 November 1974, educated at Scotch College, Melbourne
) is an Australia
n rower and triple Olympic gold medallist.
Ginn won the men's coxless fours at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics
as part of Australia's Oarsome Foursome
, along with Mike McKay
, James Tomkins, and Nicholas Green
; Ginn replaced the retired Andrew Cooper
. Ginn and James Tomkins had planned to race the straight pair at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics
, but Ginn suffered a severe back injury, forcing him to withdraw from the boat.
In 2002, he returned to the water, teaming up with fellow Oarsome Foursome rower James Tomkins in the coxless pairs; they finished fourth in the 2002 World Championships. In 2003, Ginn and Tomkins were the surprise winners, beating the British favourites—and defending champions—Matthew Pinsent
and James Cracknell
, which was a factor in Pinsent and Cracknell choosing to move to the coxless fours. At the 2004 Summer Olympics
, Ginn and Tomkins won the gold medal in the coxless pairs.
In 2006, Ginn made a return to international competition at the Rowing World Championships held at Dorney Lake
, Eton
. He and new pairs partner Duncan Free
were able to win despite choppy tail conditions.
Drew Ginn has been keeping a blog
of his rowing activities.
Scotch College, Melbourne
, Ginn's former school, named a racing eight "Drew Ginn" in his honor. It won the APS Head of the River (Australia)
as the schools 1st VIII boat in 1998.
In 2007, Drew Ginn and Duncan Free successfully defended their coxless pairs title, posting a time of 6:24.87 minutes—almost 6 seconds ahead of their New Zealand
rivals who had stuck with them for the first 1000m before dropping behind to take the silver.
Early in 2008 Drew Ginn and 2007 World Championships gold medal winning partner Duncan Free, were pre-selected to compete for Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
, with immediate success, particularly in the discipline of the time trial.
Ginn won the 2009 Oceania time trial championships,; however, in downplaying the achievement Ginn noted two riders in the under-23 competition actually posted faster times over the same course on the same day.
In a much stronger field at the 2010 Australian national road championships, Ginn finished sixth.
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
, (born 20 November 1974, educated at Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
) is an Australia
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 rower and triple Olympic gold medallist.
Ginn won the men's coxless fours at the Atlanta 1996 Summer Olympics
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....
as part of Australia's Oarsome Foursome
Oarsome Foursome
The Oarsome Foursome is the nickname for an Australian rowing crew who competed between 1990 and 1998 - winning two Olympic gold medals in the coxless fours.The original crew was Nick Green, James Tomkins, Mike McKay, and Sam Patten...
, along with Mike McKay
Mike McKay
Michael McKay , commonly known as Mike McKay, is an Australian rower and a four-time Olympic medalist. He was educated at Xavier College in Kew, Melbourne.-Biography:...
, James Tomkins, and Nicholas Green
Nick Green (rower)
Nicholas "Nick" David Green OAM is a former Australian Olympics rowing champion. He was educated at Xavier College in Kew, Melbourne and at Melbourne High School....
; Ginn replaced the retired Andrew Cooper
Andrew Cooper
Andrew Cooper is a former Australian Olympics rowing champion. He competed in two Olympic Games — 1988 Summer Olympics and 1992 Summer Olympics, and was a member of the "Oarsome Foursome" in 1991 and 1992.-Olympic Games:...
. Ginn and James Tomkins had planned to race the straight pair at the Sydney 2000 Summer Olympics
2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, but Ginn suffered a severe back injury, forcing him to withdraw from the boat.
In 2002, he returned to the water, teaming up with fellow Oarsome Foursome rower James Tomkins in the coxless pairs; they finished fourth in the 2002 World Championships. In 2003, Ginn and Tomkins were the surprise winners, beating the British favourites—and defending champions—Matthew Pinsent
Matthew Pinsent
Sir Matthew Clive Pinsent CBE is an English rower and broadcaster. During his rowing career, he won 10 world championship gold medals and four consecutive Olympic gold medals, of which three were with Steve Redgrave...
and James Cracknell
James Cracknell
James Cracknell, OBE is a British rowing champion and double Olympic gold medalist and adventurer. Cracknell is married to TV and radio presenter Beverley Turner; they have three children. In the New Year Honours List, 2004, he was appointed OBE for services to sport...
, which was a factor in Pinsent and Cracknell choosing to move to the coxless fours. At the 2004 Summer Olympics
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...
, Ginn and Tomkins won the gold medal in the coxless pairs.
In 2006, Ginn made a return to international competition at the Rowing World Championships held at Dorney Lake
Dorney Lake
Dorney Lake is a purpose-built rowing lake in the United Kingdom. It is located at grid reference near the village of Dorney, Buckinghamshire, and near the towns of Windsor and Eton, close to the River Thames. The lake is privately owned and financed by Eton College, who have spent £17 million...
, Eton
Eton, Berkshire
Eton is a town and civil parish in Berkshire, England, lying on the opposite bank of the River Thames to Windsor and connected to it by Windsor Bridge. The parish also includes the large village of Eton Wick, 2 miles west of the town, and has a population of 4,980. Eton was in Buckinghamshire until...
. He and new pairs partner Duncan Free
Duncan Free
Duncan Free, is an Australian rower and Olympic medallist. Free was born in Hobart, Tasmania but currently lives on Queensland's Gold Coast....
were able to win despite choppy tail conditions.
Drew Ginn has been keeping a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
of his rowing activities.
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, Ginn's former school, named a racing eight "Drew Ginn" in his honor. It won the APS Head of the River (Australia)
Head of the River (Australia)
The Head of the River is a name given to annual Australian rowing regattas held in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, Western Australia and South Australia...
as the schools 1st VIII boat in 1998.
In 2007, Drew Ginn and Duncan Free successfully defended their coxless pairs title, posting a time of 6:24.87 minutes—almost 6 seconds ahead of their New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
rivals who had stuck with them for the first 1000m before dropping behind to take the silver.
Early in 2008 Drew Ginn and 2007 World Championships gold medal winning partner Duncan Free, were pre-selected to compete for Australia at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.
Cycling
In 2009 Ginn took up competitive road bicycle racingRoad bicycle racing
Road bicycle racing is a bicycle racing sport held on roads, using racing bicycles. The term "road racing" is usually applied to events where competing riders start simultaneously with the winner being the first to the line at the end of the course .Historically, the most...
, with immediate success, particularly in the discipline of the time trial.
Ginn won the 2009 Oceania time trial championships,; however, in downplaying the achievement Ginn noted two riders in the under-23 competition actually posted faster times over the same course on the same day.
In a much stronger field at the 2010 Australian national road championships, Ginn finished sixth.