Related Rowing Olympians
Background
Self described "Olympic Enthusiast" David Clark has compiled the following interesting information. He suggests that it is likely that rowing has produced more related Olympians than any other Olympic sport.
Whilst David and I have tried to ensure accuracy, there will be errors. The assistance of readers is identifying errors and omissions would be gratefully received.
Related Australian Olympians: Rowing
Brothers
| Athlete | Years |
| Frank Cummings | 1924 |
| Robert Cummings | 1924 |
| Peter Guest | 1960 |
| Paul Guest | 1960, 1964, 1968 |
| Bryan Curtin | 1972 |
| Richard Curtin | 1972 |
| David Doyle | 1984 |
| Mark Doyle | 1988 |
| Geoff Stewart* | 1996, 2000, 2004 |
| James Stewart* | 1996, 2000, 2004 |
| Stephen Stewart | 2004, 2008 |
| Nicholas Purnell | 2012, 2020 |
| Alex Purnell | 2020 |
* twins
Sisters
| Athlete | Years |
| Katrina Bateman | 2016 (reserve) |
| Amanda Bateman | 2020 |
| Maddie Edmunds | 2016 |
| Jacinta Edmunds | 2020 (reserve) |
Brothers and sisters
| Athletes | Years |
| Emmy Snook | 1992 |
| Ron Snook | 1996 |
Fathers and sons
| Athletes | Years |
| Cecil Pearce | 1936 |
| Gary Pearce | 1964, 1968, 1972 |
| Wal Mackney | 1936 |
| Kim Mackey | 1972 |
| Brian Doyle | 1956 |
| David Doyle | 1984 |
| Mark Doyle | 1988 |
| Tim Conrad | 1976 |
| Sam Conrad | 2008 |
NB: Harald Jährling (rowing) competed for East Germany in 1976 and 1980 and coached at the Olympic level for several countries, while his son Rob Jährling (rowing) competed for Australia in 1996, 2000 and 2004.
Fathers and daughters
| Athletes | Years |
| David Douglas | 1968 |
| Georgina Douglas | 1996, 2000 |
| Ian Edmunds | 1984 |
| Maddie Edmunds | 2016 |
| Jacinta Edmunds | 2020 (reserve) |
| Ion Popa | 1984 |
| Rosemary Popa | 2020 |
Mothers and sons
No instance
Mothers and daughters
| Athletes | Years |
| Sue Chapman-Popa | 1984 |
| Rosemary Popa | 2020 |
Husbands and wives
| Athletes | Years |
| Tim Young | 1980 |
| Anne Chirnside | 1980 |
| Andrew Withers | 1980 |
| Sally Harding | 1980 |
| Ion Popa* | 1984 |
| Sue Chapman-Popa* | 1984 |
| Kaylynn Hick (nee Fry)* | 1996 |
| Bruce Hick* | 1996 |
| Richard Wearne | 1996 |
| Carmen Klomp | 1996 |
*married at the time they competed at the Games.
Despite Sue and David Palfreyman both being on the 1980 team with Sue as cox of the women's four and David as coach, Ion Popa and Sue Chapman-Popa are probably the first Australian Olympians to both compete at the same Olympic Games in any sport. Their story is interesting on many levels with their marriage story of particular interest. Ion was born in Romania and defected during the Cold War. Sue was born in the USA but spent much of her youth in Australia, her father managing General Motors in the region. Both were Australian citizens but at the time of entries, but had not been so for enough time. It required the consent of the Americans and Romanians. The Americans readily consented given the lack of recent connection with their country but the Romanians were not so accommodating - Ion was a defector who had not completed his military service. The solution was to bring forward what was going to occur, namely marry and overcome the Romanian barrier. Their marriage occurred the day before entries closed and both successfully competed in 1984.
Grandparents and grandchildren
| Athletes | Years |
| Maurice Grace | 1956 |
| Sam Conrad | 2008 |
Both parents represented Australia at the Games
| Athlete | Year | Parents | Years |
| Rosemary Popa | 2020 | Ion Popa | 1984 |
|
| Sue Chapman-Popa | 1984 |
NB: Rob Jahrling’s (1996, 2000 and 2004) father (Harold Jahrling) and mother (Marina Wilke) competed for East Germany
Related Australian Olympians: Rowing and another sport
Brothers and sisters
| Athletes | Sport | Years |
| Gary Herford | Rowing | 1964 |
| Kim Herford | Swimming | 1964 |
| Margot Foster | Rowing | 1984 |
| Peter Foster | Canoeing | 1988 |
Fathers and sons
| Athletes | Sport | Years |
| Dick Garrard | Wrestling | 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956 |
| Richard Garrard | Rowing | 1964 |
| Bill Northam | Sailing | 1964 (reserve) |
| Rod Northam | Rowing | 1964 (reserve) |
| Barry Patten | Alpine skiing | 1952 |
| Sam Patten | Rowing | 1988, 1992 |
Fathers and daughters
| Athlete | Sport | Years |
| John (Jake) Foster | Water Polo | 1952, 1956 |
| Margot Foster | Rowing | 1984 |
| Dave Anderson | Rowing | 1952, 1956 |
| Wendy Laidlaw | Basketball | 1984 |
| James Joyce | Athletics | 1956 |
| Rebecca Joyce | Rowing | 1996 |
| Dave Watson | Cycling | 1968 |
| Bronwen Watson | Rowing | 2012 |
Mothers and sons
| Athlete | Sport | Years |
| Addy Bucek | Sailing | 1992, 1996 |
| Joshua Dunkley-Smith | Rowing | 2012, 2016 |
Addy and Josh at 1992 Olympic Games in the sailing compound
