Mike McKay OAM

Michael Scott McKay, known as Mike McKay, is a legendary Australian rower, celebrated for his outstanding achievements in the sport. Born on 30 September 1964, McKay's rowing journey began at Xavier College in Kew, Melbourne, and continued at the Mercantile Rowing Club.

His senior club rowing career is marked by numerous accolades and significant contributions to the sport, both nationally and internationally.

McKay's rowing prowess was evident early on, as he was selected for the Victorian state representative King's Cup crews, contesting the men's Interstate Eight-Oared Championship at the Australian Rowing Championships on eighteen occasions from 1986 to 2004. He was part of the victorious Victorian King's Cup crews fifteen times, showcasing his dominance in the sport.

Internationally, McKay's career took off with his selection for the 1985 Match des Seniors in Banyoles, Spain, where he won a silver medal in the men's eight.

This marked the beginning of a stellar international career. In 1986, McKay won his first World Championship title in the men's eight in Nottingham, England, followed by a gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh the same year.

The pinnacle of McKay's career came as a member of the iconic "Oarsome Foursome," a coxless four that achieved global fame. The crew, comprising McKay, Nick Green, Samuel Patten, and James Tomkins, won the World Rowing Championships in 1990 and 1991. With Andrew Cooper replacing Patten, they secured gold at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The Oarsome Foursome continued their success with Drew Ginn joining the crew, winning another gold at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

McKay's versatility was further demonstrated at the 1998 World Rowing Championships, where he won gold in the coxed four and silver in the coxless pair with Drew Ginn. Although the foursome did not qualify for the 1999 World Championships as a coxless four, McKay's resilience saw him join the Australian eight, which won silver at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

In the 2004 Athens Olympics, McKay was once again a key member of the Australian eight, which finished third, adding a bronze medal to his impressive Olympic collection. Throughout his career, McKay accumulated an array of medals, including four Olympic medals (two gold, one silver, one bronze) and multiple World Championship titles.

For his contributions to rowing, McKay was awarded the Order of Australia in 1993, and in 2007, he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. The same year, he received the Thomas Keller Medal from the International Rowing Federation, recognizing his exceptional career and sportsmanship.

Beyond rowing, McKay has continued to contribute to the sport and other fields. In 2011, he was announced as the CEO of the GreenEdge Cycling Team. His dedication to rowing remains strong, as evidenced by his coaching role for the Victorian men's senior eight, leading them to a second place in the King's Cup at the 2022 Interstate Regatta. McKay's legacy in rowing is one of excellence, perseverance, and remarkable achievement.