Eric Murray (rower)
Encyclopedia
Eric Murray is a New Zealand
rower. He has won four World Rowing Championships
gold medals. The first was as a member of the New Zealand coxless four
at 2007 World Rowing Championships
. Murray then went on to become a member of the double gold medal-winning coxless pair
with fellow coxless four member Hamish Bond
. They won gold at the 2009 World Rowing Championships
, then went on to retain their title at the 2010 World Rowing Championships
. Murray's achievements in both the coxless four and the coxless pair have seen him win two Halberg sports awards
team of the year, firstly in 2007 with the four, and then in 2009 with Bond.
Murray has also represented New Zealand at two Olympic Games
as part of the coxless four, coming 5th in the A Final at the 2004 Olympics
and winning the B Final for a 7th place overall in 2008
After a successful campaign which saw Murray and Bond narrowly securing the world championship title for another year on Lake Karapiro; Murray's year was topped off with the news that his wife, Jackie Murray was pregnant with their first child. Murray will most likely be competing at the 2011 Rowing World Championships when his wife is giving birth to the child.
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...
rower. He has won four 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...
gold medals. The first was as a member of the New Zealand coxless four
Coxless four
A coxless four is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for four persons who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of four rowers, each having one oar. There are two rowers on the stroke side and two on the bow side...
at 2007 World Rowing Championships
2007 World Rowing Championships
The 30th World Rowing Championships was held between August 26 and September 2, 2007 in Munich, Germany.-Medal summary:- Men's & Women's Events :- Paralympic Events :...
. Murray then went on to become a member of the double gold medal-winning coxless pair
Coxless pair
A Coxless pair is a rowing boat used in the sport of competitive rowing. It is designed for two rowers, who propel the boat with sweep oars.The crew consists of a pair of rowers, each having one oar, one on the stroke side and one on the bow side...
with fellow coxless four member Hamish Bond
Hamish Bond
Hamish Bond is a New Zealand Olympic rower.Bond was a member of the gold medal-winning coxless fours at the 2007 World Rowing Championships. Prior to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, Bond was officially named as New Zealand's 1000th Olympian but later corrected to 1002 after a miscount...
. They won gold at the 2009 World Rowing Championships
2009 World Rowing Championships
The 38th 2009 World Rowing Championships regatta was held at Lake Malta, Poznań, Poland between August 23 – August 30.The annual week long rowing regatta was organized by FISA , and held at the end of the northern hemisphere summer...
, then went on to retain their title at the 2010 World Rowing Championships
2010 World Rowing Championships
The 39th 2010 World Rowing Championships were held at Lake Karapiro, near Cambridge, New Zealand between October 29 – November 7. The annual week-long rowing regatta was organised by FISA . Usually held at the end of the northern hemisphere summer, they were held later in the year in the southern...
. Murray's achievements in both the coxless four and the coxless pair have seen him win two Halberg sports awards
Halberg awards
The Westpac Halberg awards recognise New Zealand's top sporting achievements.The annual award was started in 1949 by NZ Sportsman magazine founder Jack Fairburn...
team of the year, firstly in 2007 with the four, and then in 2009 with Bond.
Murray has also represented New Zealand at two 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...
as part of the coxless four, coming 5th in the A Final at the 2004 Olympics
Rowing at the 2004 Summer Olympics
Rowing at the 2004 Summer Olympics took place at the Schinias Olympic Rowing and Canoeing Centre and featured 550 competitors taking part in 14 events....
and winning the B Final for a 7th place overall in 2008
Rowing at the 2008 Summer Olympics
Rowing competitions at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing were held from August 9 to August 17, at the Shunyi Olympic Rowing-Canoeing Park.- Events :14 sets of medals were awarded in the following events:*Single sculls men*Pairs men...
After a successful campaign which saw Murray and Bond narrowly securing the world championship title for another year on Lake Karapiro; Murray's year was topped off with the news that his wife, Jackie Murray was pregnant with their first child. Murray will most likely be competing at the 2011 Rowing World Championships when his wife is giving birth to the child.