The New Zealand Olympic Committee and Rowing NZ acknowledge the sad passing of former Olympic Champion Warren Cole, who passed away on 16 July 2019, aged 78.
After achieving a collection of national title for both Whakatane and Waikato Rowing Clubs, Warren competed at two Olympics, taking Gold in the men’s four in Mexico 1968 alongside Dick Joyce, Dudley Storey, Ross Collinge and coxswain Simon Dickie. The crew won their heat and semi-final, and won the final race by nearly 3 seconds ahead of East Germany and Switzerland. The final was the last time the crew ever raced together. Cole again competed in the men’s four in Munich 1972, placing sixth with crewmates John Clark, Peter Lindsay, Dave Lindstrom and Chris Nilsson.
Photo caption: (left to right) Warren Cole, Ross Collinge, Paula Storey (Dudley Storey’s wife) and Dick Joyce at Lake Karapiro, 19 October 2018.
After retiring from competition, Warren was manager of the New Zealand rowing team at the 1977 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, and again in the 1978 regatta at Lake Karapiro.
Warren was New Zealand Olympian #221 and was awarded New Zealand Rowing Foundation Legacy Medal #101 in February, 2018. Cole was also inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990, alongside his Mexico 1968 crew.
Rowing NZ were proud to be a part of the 1968 crew’s celebrations of their 50th anniversary of their gold medal, hosting the crew at Lake Karapiro on 19 October, 2018.
The New Zealand Olympic Committee and Rowing NZ extend their condolences to the Cole family and his many friends.