Eric Murray (rower)

Eric Murray

Bond and Murray at the top in final of men's coxless pair at the 2012 Summer Olympics
Personal information
Full name	Eric Gordon Murray
Born	6 May 1982 Hastings, New Zealand
Height	1.96 m (6 ft 5 in)
Weight	98 kg (216 lb)
Medal record Men's rowing Competitor for  New Zealand Olympic Games 2012 London Men's Coxless Pair World Championships 2007 Munich Men's Coxless Four 2009 Poznan Men's Coxless Pair 2010 Karapiro Men's Coxless Pair 2011 Bled Men's Coxless Pair 2013 Chungjiu Men's Coxless Pair 2014 Amsterdam Men's Coxed Pair 2014 Amsterdam Men's Coxless Pair 2015 Aiguebelette Men's Coxless Pair

Eric Gordon Murray MNZM (born 6 May 1982) is a New Zealand rower and gold medalist at the 2012 London Olympic Games.^[1] He won four consecutive World Rowing Championship gold medals and set two world best times.

Career

Murray was born in Hastings.^[1] His first world championship medal 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 triple World Champion 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.^[2] and 2011 World Rowing Championships. Murray's achievements in both the coxless four and the coxless pair have seen him win two Halberg sports awards^[3] 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.^[1]

In late December 2011 Murray set a new world record on an indoor rowing machine. On a Concept 2 Dynamic Rowing Machine Murray went 18,728 m in one hour.^[4] The story was featured on TV New Zealand.^[5]

On 17 January 2012 Murray raced five-time men's single scull world champion Mahé Drysdale in the single scull event at the North Island Club Championships and won by less than half a second. Drysdale and Murray were the only two scullers in the event due to inconsistent crosswinds.^[6]

At the 2012 London Olympic Games Murray and teammate Hamish Bond took six seconds off the world record to 6:08.5 in their heat for the men's coxless pair. In the Olympic final Murray and Bond surged into the lead after the 500 meter mark to win the gold medal in 6:16.65 by open water. France edged Great Britain for the silver in 6:21.11 v. Great Britain's time of 6:21.77. The victory capped an undefeated streak that began when Murray and Bond began racing the pair internationally in 2009.

Murray was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2013 New Year's Honours, for his services to rowing.^[7]

Indoor Rowing Records

Event	Result	Date	Source
5000m	14:56.4	16 November 2015	"Concept2 World Records – 5000m". 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
6000m	18:16.8	25 February 2014	"Concept2 World Records – 6000m". 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
10000m	31:05.2	23 December 2014	"Concept2 World Records – 10000m". 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
21097m (Half Marathon)	1:07:58.1	22 December 2013	"Concept2 World Records – 21097m". 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.

References

1. "Eric Murray". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 2 March 2016.
2. Kiwi Pair official website
3. Halberg Award winners, 2000–2009.
4. Hyde, Mitch (3 July 2012). "Just don't say gold". Waikato Times. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
5. http://tvnz.co.nz/othersports-news/rowers-break-records-off-water-video-4667333
6. John Rothery (Jan 14, 2012). Eric Murray beats Mahe Drysdale in surprise win at North Island Club Champs at Karapiro. Karapiro: YouTube.
7. "New Year Honours List 2013". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 31 December 2012. Retrieved 31 December 2012.

External links

• Eric Murray at WorldRowing.com from FISA