Josh Dunkley-Smith
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)
Joshua Dunkley-Smith took up rowing at the age of 15 at Geelong College. He joined Mercantile in 2008. His illustrious career at State and National level started almost immediately.
Obviously Josh’s performance at the 2012 Olympic Games was an enormous achievement alongside fellow Mercantile member Drew Ginn. They won their heat by almost three seconds, setting a new Olympic record, before finishing second behind the British in the semi-final. The final was extremely close, with the Australians finishing just 1.22 seconds behind Great Britain to take silver.
Josh’s mother Addy Bucek, is a dual Olympian in sailing – 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Games. He travelled with his mother to the Olympic Games and grew up familiar with the life of an athlete which inspired him to become an Olympian himself. With Rio around the corner, he could become a dual Olympian himself.
Josh is a rare natural talent in the sport. His huge ergometer scores are legendary and his long relaxed technique, a joy to watch.
Known rowing record
2006 – APS Head of the River Geelong College first crew five seat – Second
2007 – APS Head of the River Geelong College first crew six seat and Captain of Boats
2008 – Interstate Championships Men’s Youth Eight three seat – First
2009 – Interstate Championships Men’s Youth Eight stroke – First
2009 – World Under 23 Championships Men’s Eight stroke – Fourth
2009 – World Championships Men’s Eight two seat – Seventh
2010 – Interstate Championships Men’s Eight stroke – Second
2010 – World Cup Munich Men’s Four – Gold
2010 – World Cup Lucerne Men’s Eight – Silver
2010 – Under 23 World Championships Men’s Four stroke – Bronze
2010 – World Championships Men’s Eight stroke – Bronze
2011 – Interstate Championships Men’s Eight six seat – Second
2011 – World Championships Men’s Four stroke – Bronze
2012 Olympic Four with Josh in the stroke seat
2012 – Interstate Championships Men’s Eight stroke – Second
2012 – World Cup Lucerne Men’s Four – Silver
2012 – World Cup Munich Men’s Four – Gold
2012 – Olympic Games Men’s Four stroke – Silver
2013 – Interstate Championships Men’s Eight stroke – second
2013 – World Cup Sydney Men’s Four – Gold
2013 – World Cup Eton Men’s Four – Gold
2013 – World Cup Lucerne Men’s Four – Silver
2013 – World Championships Men’s Four – Silver
2014 – Interstate Championships Men’s Eight stroke – Third
2014 – World Cup Sydney Men’s Eight – Gold
2014 – World Cup Sydney Men’s Four – Bronze
2014 – World Cup Aiguebelette Men’s Four – Silver
2014 – World Championships Men’s Four two seat – Bronze
2015 – Interstate Championships Men’s Eight six seat – First
2015 – World Cup Lucerne Men’s Eight seven seat – Fifth
2015 – World Championships Men’s Four two seat – Silver
2016 - Olympic Games Men's Four two seat - Silver
2018 - World Champion and world record holder, 2000m ergometer
On the podium at the Rio Games - Josh second from the left
Andrew Guerin
October 2015 (updated in part 2020)