1 May 2017

After an incredible 69 unbeaten races for the past seven years, one of the world’s best rowers, the two-time Olympic gold medallist Eric Murray, 34, has announced his retirement, media in New Zealand reported yesterday.

Murray has not raced since becoming Olympic champion in the pairs together with his crew mate, Hamish Bond, at the Games in Rio last year. Murray is also an eight-time world champion in the fours and pairs.

According to Simon Peterson, New Zealand Rowing CEO, Murray’s retirement is a family-based decision.

‘The name Bond and Murray and the record that goes with it will surpass generations ahead,’ Peterson told NZ media.

It is understood that Bond is concentrating on cycling in 2017 and there is no word if he will return to rowing next year.

‘Hamish made a clear decision that 2017 was a cycling year to see how far he could take that. He will make his own decision in his own time,’ Peterson said.

Here is the Kiwi pairs’ victory race on the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon in Rio:

Some of you readers might remember that despite Murray and Bond’s gold medal in the men’s pairs, Mahe Drysdale’s fantastic win in the men’s single sculls and Rebecca Scown and Genevieve Behrent’s silver medal in the women’s pairs, disappointed voices were raised in New Zealand after the Rio Games, as three Olympic medals were not enough for Rowing New Zealand and its major sponsor, High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ). The organisations were aiming for five medals or more at the 2016 Games.