Mike McKay
Encyclopedia
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
.
, Sam Patten, James Tomkins began racing the coxless four. Their success was immediate. They won the 1990 and 1991 World Rowing Championships
. And with Andrew Cooper
replacing Sam Patten, they followed up with a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
in Barcelona
. The crew's success gained them the nickname Oarsome Foursome
.
The boat repeated its Gold medal performance at the 1996 Summer Olympics
, this time with Drew Ginn
replacing Andrew Cooper
.
In 1998, McKay, with the other members of the Oarsome Foursome, teamed to win the coxless four, and McKay with Drew Ginn placed second in the coxless pair. In 1999, the boat would go on to try out, but lose the 1999 Australian selection trials in the four without. Nick Green retired, Tomkins and Ginn decided to switch to the coxless pairs, and McKay tried out for the Australian eight which ended up finishing seventh at the World Championships.
McKay made the eight for the 2000 Summer Olympics
in Sydney, and the boat came in as one of the favorites. They won their opening heat, but in the finals, the British crew got out to an early lead, which they managed to hold until the end nipping the Australian eight, which finished second, by 0.8 seconds.
McKay was again in the Australian eight for the 2004 Summer Olympics
in Athens
. The boat finished third behind the United States and the Netherlands.
In 1993, McKay and the other members of his 1992 Olympic boat were awarded the Order of Australia
.
In May 2011 it was announced that Mckay is to be the CEO of the new GreenEdge Cycling Team which will begin competing in 2012.
: For an outstanding career in rowing. Presented at the III Cup Event in Lucerne
Xavier College
Xavier College is a Roman Catholic, day and boarding school predominantly for boys, with its main campus located in Kew, an eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
in Kew
Kew
Kew is a place in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames in South West London. Kew is best known for being the location of the Royal Botanic Gardens, now a World Heritage Site, which includes Kew Palace...
, Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Biography
In 1990, McKay, with Nick GreenNick 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....
, Sam Patten, James Tomkins began racing the coxless four. Their success was immediate. They won the 1990 and 1991 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...
. And with 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:...
replacing Sam Patten, they followed up with a gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics
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...
in 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...
. The crew's success gained them the nickname 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...
.
The boat repeated its Gold medal performance at the 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....
, this time with Drew Ginn
Drew Ginn
Drew Cameron Ginn, OAM, is an Australian rower and triple Olympic gold medallist....
replacing 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:...
.
In 1998, McKay, with the other members of the Oarsome Foursome, teamed to win the coxless four, and McKay with Drew Ginn placed second in the coxless pair. In 1999, the boat would go on to try out, but lose the 1999 Australian selection trials in the four without. Nick Green retired, Tomkins and Ginn decided to switch to the coxless pairs, and McKay tried out for the Australian eight which ended up finishing seventh at the World Championships.
McKay made the eight for the 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...
in Sydney, and the boat came in as one of the favorites. They won their opening heat, but in the finals, the British crew got out to an early lead, which they managed to hold until the end nipping the Australian eight, which finished second, by 0.8 seconds.
McKay was again in the Australian eight for 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...
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...
. The boat finished third behind the United States and the Netherlands.
In 1993, McKay and the other members of his 1992 Olympic boat were awarded the Order of Australia
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"...
.
In May 2011 it was announced that Mckay is to be the CEO of the new GreenEdge Cycling Team which will begin competing in 2012.
Achievements
Thomas Keller MedalThomas Keller Medal
The Thomas Keller Medal is given by the International Rowing Federation for an outstanding international career in the sport of rowing. It is the highest honor in rowing and is awarded to any athlete within five years of his/her retirement from the sport...
: For an outstanding career in rowing. Presented at the III Cup Event in Lucerne
- OlympicRowing at the Summer OlympicsRowing at the Summer Olympics has been part of the competition since the 1900 Summer Olympics. Rowing was on the program at the 1896 Summer Olympics but was cancelled due to bad weather. Only men were allowed to compete until the women's events were introduced at the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal...
Medals: 2 Gold, 1 Silver, 1 Bronze - World ChampionshipWorld Rowing ChampionshipsThe 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...
Medals: 3 Gold, 1 Silver
Olympic Games
- 2004 - Bronze, Eight
- 2000 - Silver, Eight
- 1996 - Gold, Coxless Four (with Nick GreenNick 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....
, Drew GinnDrew GinnDrew Cameron Ginn, OAM, is an Australian rower and triple Olympic gold medallist....
, James Tomkins) - 1992 - Gold, Coxless Four (with Nick Green, Andrew Cooper, James Tomkins)
- 1988 - 5th, Eight
World Championships
- 1999 - Seventh, Eight
- 1998 - Gold, Coxed Four (with Nick Green, James Tomkins, Drew Ginn and Brett Hayman (cox))
- 1998 - Silver, Pair w/out (with Drew Ginn)
- 1995 - 5th, Coxless Four (with Nick Green, Drew Ginn, James Tomkins)
- 1991 - Gold, Coxless Four (with Nick Green, Sam Patten, James Tomkins)
- 1990 - Gold, Coxless Four (with Nick Green, Sam Patten, James Tomkins)