Shaun Kirkham

EVENT: Men's Eight

Shaun Kirkham is an Olympic gold medallist, claiming the top podium spot at Tokyo 2020 alongside his crew mates in the men’s eight. 

The crew’s journey to, and victory at, Tokyo was nothing short of remarkable. The New Zealand men’s eight 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. 

Tokyo was Kirkham’s second Olympics, he also competed in the men's eight that finished 6th in Rio 2016. 

He was a member of the under-23 world championship eight of 2013 & 2014.