Cameron Girdlestone
Sydney University Boat Club (NSDW)
Cameron, better known as Cam, is a name synonymous with dedication, grit, and the pursuit of excellence in the sport of rowing. His journey began at The King’s School in Sydney, where he made a mark as a young athlete. In 2005, Cam rowed in the school’s prestigious First Eight and represented Australia in the junior men’s four, finishing a commendable seventh. But it was the following year that Cam truly began to showcase his potential. As part of the First Eight, he helped lead the crew to victory at both the Head of the River and the Schoolboy National Championship. In an extraordinary individual feat, Cam also triumphed in the Under-19 Single Sculls, cementing his place as one of Australia’s most promising rowers.
In 2007, Cam raced again for Australia, this time in the Under-23 Men’s Lightweight Four. Despite the crew finishing ninth, the experience was invaluable. But the next few years would test Cam like never before. As a lightweight rower, he struggled with the physical and mental challenges of maintaining weight and committing to full-time training. The pressure mounted, and for a time, it seemed as though the sport might not be in his future.
Cameron in the 2007 Australian Under 23 Lightweight Four
But Cam was never one to back down from adversity. In a pivotal move, he switched to heavyweight rowing, and almost immediately, the rewards of his hard work paid off. At the National Championships, he won the Men’s Under-23 Double Scull, the U23 Quad, and the U23 Men’s Eight—an extraordinary display of versatility and dominance. In 2011, Cam’s breakthrough year came when he won the Men’s Coxed Four at the Nationals, marking his transition to senior-level rowing.
From 2012 to 2014, Cam took a step back from international racing to focus on his education, completing a university degree with aspirations of becoming a high school PDHPE teacher. But even in these quieter years, his passion for rowing never waned. In 2014, he made his long-awaited return to the international stage, securing his first senior spot at World Cup I in Sydney. There, he excelled in the Men’s Double Scull and Quad, earning silver and gold medals in both events. It was a powerful reminder that Cam was back and more determined than ever.
In 2015, Cam’s momentum continued to build as he claimed another national title in the Open Men’s Double Scull. He was again selected for the Men’s Quad, a crew that would become one of the most formidable in the world. The team raced at World Cups II and III, placing just outside the medals at both events. But at the World Championships, something extraordinary happened. The crew not only qualified for the Rio Olympics but did so with an unrelenting performance that saw them push the reigning champions, Germany, from start to finish in the final. Cam and the quad earned a hard-fought silver medal—his first major international medal—a symbol of everything he had worked for.
2015 Australian Quad Scull with Cam in 3 seat
The Rio Olympics in 2016 marked the pinnacle of Cam's career. After a dominant season, including winning the Men’s Single Scull at the Nationals and sweeping both World Cups II and III in the quad, Cam’s crew was favoured to win gold. They entered the final with confidence, having won all their races leading up to it. But in the final, Germany seized control early, holding on to their lead despite an inspired charge from Cam and the Australian crew. The Australians closed the gap in the final stretch, but the Germans held on for gold. Cam and his crew earned a hard-earned silver medal—one that would forever define their legacy.
2016 Olympic Medal Presentation
After the Rio Olympics, Cam took a brief break from international competition, focusing on domestic racing. In 2017 and 2018, he competed in the Interstate Men’s Single for New South Wales, winning the prestigious President’s Cup and earning a trip to Henley in 2017. But Cam’s fire to compete at the highest level was far from extinguished.
In 2019, Cam returned to the senior team with renewed purpose, dominating the Nationals once again by winning both the Men’s Double Scull and Quad Scull. At World Cup II, his quad earned a silver medal, and though they narrowly missed another podium finish at World Cup III, finishing fourth, Cam’s relentless pursuit of excellence remained clear. At the World Championships, the crew secured a crucial fourth-place finish, qualifying the boat for the Tokyo Olympics.
The Tokyo Olympics in 2021 would prove to be the final chapter in Cam’s illustrious career. After the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic, Cam returned with a renewed sense of focus. He added another national title to his collection in both the Single Scull and the Men’s Quad Scull. At the Tokyo Games, the quad crew made an immediate impact, going straight into the final from the heats. With the race unfolding in treacherous conditions—gusty winds and choppy waters—many of the crews struggled with their technique. But Cam, sculling in the three seat, kept his composure. The Australian quad maintained their form, holding strong through the turbulent waters, and clinched a historic bronze medal finish—one of the most emotional moments of Cam’s career. The Dutch crew, who set a new world record, took the gold, but Cam’s determination and resilience had earned him yet another Olympic medal.
After the Tokyo Olympics, Cam made the difficult decision to retire from international rowing, his body and mind having given everything to the sport. But his love for rowing didn’t fade. He remained deeply involved in the rowing community, joining the Australian Olympic Committee Athlete Commission and teaching at The Shore School. Cam became known not just for his success on the water but for his fierce work ethic, his unyielding spirit, and his commitment to always leading from the front. He was a symbol of what it meant to be relentless in the pursuit of greatness—a true champion, both on and off the water
Some rowing highlights
2005 World Rowing Championship Junior Men’s Four – Seventh
2006 AAGPS Head of the River – First
2006 National Championship Under 19 Men’s Single Scull – First
2006 National Championship Schoolboy Eight – First
2007 World Rowing Championship Under 23 Men’s Lightweight four – Ninth
2010 National Championship Under 23 Men’s Double Scull – First
2010 National Championship Under 23 Men’s Quad Scull – First
2010 National Championship Under 23 Men’s Eight – First
2011 National Championship Open Coxed Four – First
2014 World Rowing Cup One Men’s Double Scull – Second
2014 World Rowing Cup One Men’s Quad Scull – First
2014 World Rowing Cup Three Men’s Quad Scull – Ninth
2014 World Rowing Championship Quad Scull – Fifteenth
2015 National Championship Men’s Double Scull – First
2015 World Rowing Cup Two Men’s Quad Scull – Fifth
2015 World Rowing Cup Three Men’s Quad Scull – Sixth
2015 World Rowing Championship Men’s Quad Scull – Second
2016 National Championship Open Men’s Single – First
2016 World Rowing Cup Two Men’s Quad Scull – First
2016 World Rowing Cup Three Men’s Quad Scull – First
2016 Olympic Games Rio Men’s Quad Scull – Second
2017 National Championship Interstate Men’s Single – First
2019 National Championship Men’s Double Scull – First
2019 National Championship Men’s Quad Scull – First
2019 World Rowing Cup Two Men’s Quad Scull – Second
2019 World Rowing Cup Two Men’s Quad Scull – Fourth
2019 World Rowing Championship Men’s Quad Scull – Fourth
2021 National Championship Open Men’s Single – First
2021 National Championship Men’s Quad Scull – First
2021 Olympic Games Tokyo Men’s Quad Scull – Third
Jack Hargreaves
December 2024