At the 2003 FISA Rowing World Championships in Milan, Italy, Australia qualified 12
out of 14 boats for the 2004 Athens Olympics. The successful regatta for Australia
saw the team win two gold, three silver and a bronze medal.
In an outstanding performance by the men’s coxless pair (M2-), James Tomkins and Drew Ginn recorded an impressive win over Croatia and South Africa. As a result of this performance and their long history of proven success, Rowing Australia has pre-selected the pair to compete as the National Men’s Coxless Pair (M2-) in the 2004 National Rowing Team in advance of the selection trials due to start next week.
Tomkins and Ginn are the only male rowers to have won a World Championship or Olympic Gold since 1998. Australia’s achievement of nine heavyweight gold medals won in World Championships or Olympic Games in the last fifty years has seen Tomkins take part in all nine of these victories while Ginn has been part of the last four.
This announcement will be made at Banks Rowing Club, Boathouse Drive, Melbourne Victoria by Rowing Australia Director and Chair of the Rowing Australia High Performance Commission, Colin Smith followed by a statement from James Tomkins and Drew Ginn. The athletes, their coach, Chris O’Brien, and Australian Men’s Head Coach, Noel Donaldson, will be available for interviews directly after the announcement.
Crew Profile
James Tomkins OAM
· Dual Olympic Gold Medallist with the “Oarsome Foursome” in Barcelona “92” and Atlanta “96” in the Coxless four
· Olympic Bronze Medallist at Sydney 2000 in the Coxless pair with Matthew Long
· Won his first World Championship in 1986 in the Australian Men’s Eight in Nottingham, England.
· Only athlete in the world to win a World Championship in every Men’s sweep oar event. ( Seven World Championships titles in total)
Coxless Pair 1999, 2003
Coxed Pair 1998
Coxless Four 1990, 1991
Coxed Four 1998
Eight 1986
· James along with partner Drew Ginn was named the 2003 FISA (International Rowing Governing Body) Male crew of the year.
Drew Ginn OAM
· Olympic Gold Medallist with the “Oarsome Foursome” in Atlanta “96” in the Coxless four.
· World Champion in the Coxless Pair in 1999 and 2003 with James Tomkins.
· World Champions in the Coxed four in 1998 with fellow “Oarsome Foursome” crew members Nick Green , Michael McKay James Tomkins and coxed by Brett Hayman.
· Drew along with partner James Tomkins was named 2003 FISA (International Governing Body) Male crew of the year.
Chris O’Brien
Chris is currently the Head Coach at Melbourne University Boat Club and has been coaching James and Drew in the coxless pair since 2002. Chris started coaching in Ballarat at St Patrick’s College and Wendouree Ballarat Rowing Club before moving to Melbourne in 1996 where he soon started coaching Australian Teams.
· 1998 Australian Junior Four - 4 th
· 1998 Australian U23 Eight - 1 st
· 1999 Australian U23 Eight – 4 th
· 2000 Australian U23 Eight – 2 nd
· 2001 Australian Senior A Eight
· 2002 Australian Senior A Coxless Pair -4 th
· 2003 Australian Senior A Coxless Pair – 1 st
Photographs of James Tomkins and Drew Ginn competing as the Australian Men’s Coxless Pair in the 2003 FISA Rowing World Championships in Milan, Italy can be viewed at www.rowingphotos.com . High resolution photographs for publication can be obtained by contacting James Worell on the following details: [email protected]