Matt Macdonald

Matt Macdonald is an Olympic gold and silver medallist, having won gold in the men’s eight at Tokyo 2020 and silver in the men’s coxless four at the Paris 2024.

The eight’s journey to, and victory at, Tokyo was nothing short of remarkable. The crew originally missed out on qualification for Tokyo, having not placed highly enough at the 2019 World Championships.

In 2021, the crew attended the ‘last chance regatta' in Switzerland in an effort to secure their Olympic berth. They won the regatta and returned to New Zealand in May where they were required to undergo two weeks of managed isolation in individual hotel rooms, just over a month out from their departure to Japan.

In Tokyo the eight finished second in their heat behind The Netherlands, forcing them to compete in the repechage round which they won. Advancing to the final the crew grew a small lead from the halfway point to pick up New Zealand’s first gold medal in the men’s eight since 1972. 

At Paris 2024 Macdonald and crewmates Tom Murray, Logan Ullrich and Ollie Maclean were locked in a tight battle with the US during the final.

The US were slightly ahead on the final leg, and just as the Kiwis were creeping up, the States found another gear to claim gold for the first time in the men's fours since 1960, while the Kiwis crossed in second for silver and Great Britain bagged the bronze.

Macdonald began rowing as a student at Auckland Grammar School.