Thomas Keller Medal: Oarsome rower finalist

Ginn can attribute his high school kick-start into rowing partly to one of his coaches – James Tomkins. As a 21-year-old, Ginn shot to rowing stardom after earning a spot with Tomkins, Nick Green and Mike McKay – otherwise known as the Oarsome Foursome – and going on to win an Olympic gold medal. The Olympics were Atlanta 1996. Ginn’s rowing career had taken off.

The following year Ginn won his first world championship medal taking bronze in the men’s eight. He then got his first taste of success in the pair winning silver with McKay at the 1998 World Rowing Championships. At that same regatta Ginn also scored gold in the men’s coxed four.

The 1998 world champs was the beginning of Ginn’s supremacy in the pair. The following year Ginn raced to a World Championship title in the pair, this time with Tomkins. Ginn’s spot for the 2000 Olympic Games was all but cemented.

During the 2000 season leading up to Sydney, Ginn ruptured a disc in his back while doing squats. The 25-year-old went through an intensive rehabilitation programme and was back in the boat ready for the final international race before the Sydney Olympics, the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne. A second rupture kept him out of the boat and put him back into rehab. He would not be able to compete at the Sydney Olympic Games.

Back surgery followed and Ginn joined the spectators at the Penrith Olympic rowing regatta course. Ginn believed his rowing career was over.

Using sculling as part of his rehabilitation from surgery, Ginn, with the support and encouragement of Tomkins, realised rowing could again be part of his future. By 2002 Ginn was back on the international scene in the pair with Tomkins. In 2003 they were World Champions against the mighty British pair of Pinsent and Cracknell. Ginn and Tomkins were named as 2003 World Rowing Male Crew of the Year. In 2004 they were Olympic Champions.

After a break Ginn arrived on the international scene in 2006 in time for the World Rowing Championships. This time Ginn was rowing with former sculler Duncan Free. They won and then defended their title at the 2007 World Rowing Championships. Everything was in line for a 2008 Olympic gold medal including being named as 2007 World Rowing Male Crew of the Year.

Then Ginn’s back problems resurfaced, with extreme pain. But despite the pain, he made it to a third Olympic gold.

Ginn has been constantly revered for his technical ability. He is described in his nomination:”Has taken technical rowing to another level. He is not the biggest, heaviest or strongest but he is the fastest. He has rowed with several partners, always in front of the field. He is amazing – a world best role model of the optimum rowing stroke.”

Ginn is known for his friendliness and has always been willing to share everything he has done on his way to success.

Ginn is a finalist for rowing’s most prestigious award, the Thomas Keller Medal. Nominated through public submissions, Ginn has the characteristics that qualify him for the award.

The Medal winner will be decided by the Thomas Keller Medal committee and will be announced in June. The medal will be presented to the recipient during the final stage of the Rowing World Cup in Lucerne, Switzerland, from 9 to 11 July 2010.

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