Jaime Fernandez (rower)
Encyclopedia
Jaime Fernandez is a science teacher and former Australian rower
. He grew up in the remote mining town of Gove, Northern Territory, but moved to Adelaide
for high school, where he attended Christian Brothers College
. His main sporting interest at the time was Australian Rules Football
, but he was required to participate in a summer sport as well, and he selected rowing.
He went on to study science at Adelaide University. During this time, he was recruited to the Adelaide University Boat Club
when one of the regular members fell ill. He quickly rediscovered his love for the sport, and by the age of 19 was rowing for Australia.
Fernandez competed in the Men's Eight at the Barcelona
, Atlanta
and Sydney
Olympic Games
, winning the silver medal at Sydney. He also competed in five World Rowing Championships
('93, '94, '95, '98, '99) and the 1994 Commonwealth Games
, where he won the gold medal in the Men's four. He retired from rowing following the Sydney Olympics.
In 1999, Fernandez married Mary-Jane Harding of Yass, New South Wales
. He is currently the director of rowing at Wesley College, Melbourne
.
Rowing (sport)
Rowing is a sport in which athletes race against each other on rivers, on lakes or on the ocean, depending upon the type of race and the discipline. The boats are propelled by the reaction forces on the oar blades as they are pushed against the water...
. He grew up in the remote mining town of Gove, Northern Territory, but moved to Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
for high school, where he attended Christian Brothers College
Christian Brothers College, Adelaide
Christian Brothers College is a private Catholic school in the CBD of Adelaide, South Australia. It was founded by a group of Irish Christian Brothers in 1878, and it is now one of three Christian Brothers schools in the state....
. His main sporting interest at the time was Australian Rules Football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, but he was required to participate in a summer sport as well, and he selected rowing.
He went on to study science at Adelaide University. During this time, he was recruited to the Adelaide University Boat Club
Adelaide University Boat Club
The Adelaide University Boat Club is a rowing club affiliated with the University of Adelaide. The club was founded in 1881, and in 1896 helped to form the Adelaide University Sports Association. The main clubrooms, donated by Robert Barr Smith in 1909, are located on the north bank of the River...
when one of the regular members fell ill. He quickly rediscovered his love for the sport, and by the age of 19 was rowing for Australia.
Fernandez competed in the Men's Eight at the Barcelona
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...
, 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....
and Sydney
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...
Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
, winning the silver medal at Sydney. He also competed in five World Rowing Championships
World Rowing Championships
The World Rowing Championships is an international rowing regatta organized by FISA . It is a week long event held at the end of the northern hemisphere summer and in non-Olympic years is the highlight of the international rowing calendar.The first event was held in Lucerne, Switzerland in 1962...
('93, '94, '95, '98, '99) and the 1994 Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth Games
The Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
, where he won the gold medal in the Men's four. He retired from rowing following the Sydney Olympics.
In 1999, Fernandez married Mary-Jane Harding of Yass, New South Wales
Yass, New South Wales
Yass is a town in the Southern Tablelands of New South Wales, Australia in Yass Valley Shire. The name appears to have been derived from an Aboriginal word, "Yarrh" , said to mean 'running water'....
. He is currently the director of rowing at Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne
Wesley College, Melbourne is an independent, co-educational, Christian day school in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Established in 1866, the college is a school of the Uniting Church in Australia. Wesley is the largest school in Australia by enrolment, with 3,511 students and 564 full-time staff...
.