Philippa Baker-Hogan

Born in Kaiapoi, Philippa is one of eight siblings, with her sister Erin Baker being renowned multiple World Champion Triathlete, including twice winner of the infamous Hawaii Ironman World Championship.

Philippa herself is a two-time Olympian, having competed in the Double Sculls at the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games alongside Brenda Lawson. She became the first New Zealand woman to win a gold medal at the World Rowing Championships in 1991 as a Lightweight rower, turning to ‘heavyweight’ rowing to gain a path to the Olympics in 1992. She went on to secure two more golds at subsequent World Championships in 1993 and 1994.

Initially a triathlete, Philippa switched to rowing, beginning her career in Canterbury before moving to Cambridge. She drew inspiration from Stephanie Foster, the first New Zealand woman to earn a medal at a rowing World Championship. Auckland based, Peter Mills coached her to her 1991 World Champ Title, before relocating to Whanganui in 1993, under the guidance of the now legendary Dick Tonks, at Union Boat Club.
Philippa enjoyed a remarkably successful rowing career, winning 19 national titles and two other World Championship medals. She also competed in the 1986 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, where she claimed a silver medal in the lightweight women's single sculls. 

In 2012, Philippa and Brenda Lawson were both inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame.