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David Crawshay

Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)

David has had an extraordinary career as an elite athlete. His long and brilliant rowing career has included the following achievements:

• Triple Olympian
• Olympic Double Scull Champion 2008
• Dual under 23 World Championship medallist
• Triple World Championship medallist
• President’s Cup – Four time winner
• King’s Cup – Two time winner

A personality of the sport, even in his school day - winning the Head on the River on the Barwon

Another Presidents Cup in 2010

However some of his more interesting achievements have been:

• One of the very few people to have even won the triple crowns of the Charles Fairbairn Cup (Head of the River) for his school, the Oxford and Cambridge Eight (University Championships) for his university and the King’s Cup (Interstate Championships) for his State.
• One of the few who has won the other triple of the Wilkinson Cup (Interstate Youth Eight Championships), the President’s Cup (Interstate Sculling Championship) and the King’s Cup (Interstate Eight Oared Championship).
• His alter ego has been Captain Victoria, who has provided a humorous and inspirational talk for Victorian crews on the night before the Interstate Championships.

He is an extraordinary champion of our sport.

1993 – Commenced rowing
1996 – Head of the River First crew – Second
1997 – Head of the River First crew – First
1999 – Interstate Men’s Youth Eight Championship four seat – First
2000 – Nations Cup – Men’s Quad Scull bow – Second
2000 – University Championships – Men’s Eight – First
2001 – University Championships – Men’s Eight – First
2001 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – Fifth
2001 – World Under 23 Regatta – Men’s Quad Scull – Bronze
2001 – World Championships – Men’s Quad Scull three seat – Tenth
2001 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – Fourth
2002 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – Fifth
2002 – Henley Royal – Diamond Sculls
2003 – Interstate Championships Men’s Scull – Fourth
2003 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – Fourth
2003 – World Cup Lucerne – Men’s Double Scull – Second
2003 – World Championships – Men’s Double Scull bow – Sixth
2004 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – Third
2004 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – Third
2004 – Olympic Games – Men’s Quad Scull two seat – Seventh
2005 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship – Second
2005 – World Championships – Men’s Scull – Ninth
2006 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship – First
2006 – World Championships – Men’s Quad Scull – Ninth
2007 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – First
2007 – World Championships – Men’s Double Scull – Eighth
2008 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship – Second
2008 – Olympic Games – Men’s Double Scull – Gold
2009 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – First
2009 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship – Second
2009 – World Championships – Men’s Quad Scull – Silver
2010 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – First
2010 – World Championships – Men’s Quad Scull – Bronze
2011 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship – Second
2011 – World Championships – Men’s Double Scull – Fourth
2012 – Interstate Men’s Sculling Championship – First
2012 – Olympic Games – Men’s Double Scull – Eighth
2013 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship – Second
2014 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship – Third
2014 – World Championships – Men’s Eight – Seventh
2015 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship – First
2015 – World Championships – Men’s Quad Scull – Silver

A career highlight - Olympic Champion in Beijing

When asked about his highlights, David obviously mention the 2008 Olympic win but rapidly moves to other races in crewed boats, obviously a reaction to the solitude of sculling, and good sculling performances later in his career when he was not the favourite.

 On a slightly different tack, David regards his 2009 Quad scull as one of his memorable races. It was a quad with two older and two younger athletes which unexpectedly outperformed at the World Championships. The heat race was a disappointment and the crew had to atone in the repêchage. But that race brought out great things in the crew and David entered the final in rare bullish mode. In the final against the Olympic Champions, the crew led for most of the race.

He also remembers with fondness the 2005 State Championship VIII win for Mercs over a full-strength MUBC crew – a pillar-to-post win which stuck out in his mind.

Why rowing? It was something he was good at, the fitness, the team element and being in such a motivated environment. “Being the ultimate team sport it is so challenging but so rewarding when you get it right. Also all rowers seem to be outgoing people and great to be around.

Mercantile? “We do not take ourselves seriously whilst pursing a serious objective. There has always been time for fun and a light mood. I see it in the young rowers as well as the old.”

Having fun at 2009 National Championships

He will obviously will miss the the lifestyle of pursuing your sporting dream, being immersed in an Australian team environment and training hard with mates. It will take some time to adjust without the sport.

Andrew Guerin Feb 2016