James Hunter

Rio 2016 was Jamie's first Olympic Games. Jamie was part of the 2015 World Championship crew that finished fourth and in doing so qualified the lightweight men's four for Rio, an historic occasion as it is the first time a New Zealand lightweight four have qualified in this event for the Olympic Games.

Jamie was part of the New Zealand lightweight four that were world silver medallists in 2013 and 2014. Jamie was born in Christchurch but attended Wellington's Onslow College and is a member of the Wellington Rowing Club.

Outside of rowing he enjoys the outdoors, fishing and skiing, and is completing a Bachelor of Architecture Studies at Victoria University.

Hunter first represented New Zealand at the 2012 U23 World Championships at Trakai, Lithuania in the Lightweight Coxless Four.
In 2013 Hunter moved into the elite ranks and into the men's lightweight four with Curtis Rapley, Peter Taylor and James Lassche. The crew had instant success, rocketing to their first win at the Sydney World Cup, they held that form throughout the World Cup series, winning at Eton and Lucerne. They finished the season with a silver at the 2013 World Rowing Championships in Korea.

The crew teamed up again in 2014 the crew again won Gold at the world cup regattas they attened and at the 2014 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam came away with Silver after James Lassche pulled out of the crew due to a back injury - Alistair Bond took his place in the boat. Hunter was again in the men's lightweight four for the 2015 season, this time rowing beside Curtis Rapley, James Lassche and Alistair Bond.