Michael McKay OAM
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)
1984 – Interstate Men’s Youth Eight Championship six seat – First
1985 – Trans Tasman Under 23 Series Australian Men’s sweep
1985 – Match des Seniors – Men’s Eight six seat – Silver
1986 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship four seat – First
1986 – World Championships – Men’s Eight Four seat– Gold
1986 – Commonwealth Games – Men’s Eight Four seat– Gold
1986 – Commonwealth Games – Men’s Coxed Four three seat – Bronze
1987 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship six seat – First
1987 – World Championships – Men’s Eight – Fourth
1988 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship four seat – First
1988 – Olympic Games – Men’s Eight three seat – Fifth
1989 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship six seat – Race not conducted due to a cyclone.
1989 – Interstate Men’s Eight Challenge for the Patten Cup six seat – First
1989 – Interstate Men’s Eight Challenge six seat – First
1990 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship six seat – First
1990 – World Championships – Men’s Coxless Four two seat – Gold
1991 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship four seat – First
1991 – World Championships – Men’s Coxless Four two seat – Gold
1992 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship six seat – First
1992 – Olympic Games – Men’s Coxless Four two seat – Gold
1993 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship stroke – First
1994 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship six seat – First
1995 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship stroke – First
1995 – World Championships – Men’s Coxless Four two seat – Fifth
1996 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship six seat – First
1996 – Olympic Games – Men’s Coxless Four stroke – Gold
1998 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship five seat – First
1998 – World Championships – Men’s Coxed Four two seat – Gold
1998 – World Championships – Men’s Coxless Pair bow – Silver
1999 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship five seat – Second
1999 – World Championships – Men’s Eight stroke – Seventh
2000 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship – First
2000 – Olympic Games – Men’s Eight five seat – Silver
2002 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship – First
2003 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship two seat – First
2004 – Interstate Men’s Eight Championship five seat – Second
2004 – Olympic Games Men’s Eight seven seat – Bronze
2007 – Thomas Keller Medallist for outstanding contribution to the sport of rowing
2010 – Inducted into the Victorian Rowing Hall of Fame
2020 - Took over the high performance program at Mercantile Rowing Club.
One of Harry Gordon’s 100 Greatest Olympians
Enjoying 1992 Gold medal - Michael second from left
Enjoying his last Olympic medal in 2004 - presented by an old foe Sir Matthew Pinsent
One of Australia’s finest oarsmen and one of the most successful Australian sweep oarsman at the Olympic Games. Martin Cross from the UK stated correctly that “McKay’s career cannot be measured in numbers, or summed up by these phrases: aggressively competitive; a crew-maker; hugely respected; innovative; controversial…”. However a few quotes will add to Martin’s quote. Noel Donaldson: “There’s no doubt that he was the greatest rowing competitor that Australia has seen.” Tomkins when asked why he wants to row with Michael: “I want him in a crew with me because I know with Mike we’ll win!”
He was an outstanding oarsman and competitor in too many ways to state in a few words.
Andrew Guerin 2010