Matthew Ryan
Sydney University Boat Club (NSW)
Matt Ryan’s journey in rowing began at The Kings School in Sydney, where he brightly in both rowing and rugby union. In Year 11, he led his teams to victory, capturing the Head of the River and the rugby championship. The year 2001 was a watershed moment for Matt as he became part of the Kings crew that went undefeated, triumphing in all 28 races they entered, including the prestigious Henley Royal Regatta. At the Head of the River, his crew surged ahead, winning by an impressive five seconds and setting an event record with a blistering time of 5:47. They also celebrated victory in the Barrington Cup at the nationals and later claimed the coveted Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup—an exhilarating testament to their hard work and dedication.
In 2002, still riding the wave of success at Kings, Matt rowed in the First Eight, securing his second school Head of the River title. His outstanding performance earned him a spot on the Australian team in the men’s coxed four, which travelled to Lithuania. There, in a dramatic showdown, they became World Champions, defeating Romania by a nail-biting one second—an experience that ignited a passion for international competition.
2002 World Junior Champion - Matt on the right
As he transitioned to U23 rowing in 2003, Matt continued to excel, winning national titles in the U23 Men’s Four and Eight for Sydney University. Mat also win the Noel F Wilkinson Cup for NSW winning the event by 5 seconds over the other crews. This year also marked his debut at a senior event, World Cup Three, where he finished third in the B Final. The same crew went on to the U23 World Championships in the Eight, proudly bringing home a bronze medal for Australia.
In 2004, racing again for Sydney University, Matt placed second in the U23 Men’s Eight. He gained selection in the U23 men’s coxed four, celebrating his second Underage World Championship title—a remarkable achievement that solidified his reputation as a rising star in rowing.
In 2005, Matt stepped up into the senior team for the first time, racing the men’s four at the World Championships in China, where he placed ninth. The following year, in 2006, he began the season in the four at the first World Cup, finishing fourteenth. However, after a strong performance, he was moved into the Men’s Eight, where he tasted the sweet elation of victory, winning his first-ever World Cup gold medal at World Cup Two. That year, the crew finished a close fourth at the World Championships, leaving them hungry for more.
2007 saw Matt continue his journey in the Men’s Eight, finishing eighth at the regatta. But it was 2008 that truly defined his legacy. He claimed the national title in the open men’s coxed four and, more importantly, triumphed in the King’s Cup by a mere 0.21 seconds over Victoria, a moment that encapsulated seven years of dominance with Matt as a vital part of every winning crew. Selected for the four in the Olympics, they had to qualify first. At World Cup Two that year, they won the regatta, signalling to the world that they were a force to be reckoned with. In the Olympic final, Matt’s crew led from start to finish, only to be narrowly edged out by Great Britain at the line, capturing a silver medal—an achievement that filled them with pride.
2008 Olympic Games - Men's Four Silver Medallist
In 2009, Matt celebrated yet another King’s Cup victory and added a silver medal in the men’s four at the World Championships in Poznan. The following year brought another King’s Cup win, and he raced in the men’s four at World Cup Two and Three, finishing fourth and fifth. He was then moved into the men’s eight for the World Championships in New Zealand, where he earned another medal, coming third in the A Final.
In 2011, Matt achieved another King’s Cup victory for NSW before heading to Europe to compete in the men’s eight at World Cup Three, where he finished seventh. With the Olympics on the horizon, crews had to qualify, and Matt’s men’s eight finished fourth in the final, just missing a top-three finish.
In 2012, Matt marked his fifth King’s Cup victory at the nationals and raced again in the men’s eight at World Cup Two and Three, coming sixth at World Cup Two and winning gold at World Cup Three—the final race before the 2012 Olympic Games. At his second Olympics, Matt and the men’s eight finished sixth in the A Final, missing a medal by less than half a second—a bittersweet moment that only deepened his resolve.
In 2013 and 2014, Matt took a brief respite from international racing but continued to shine for NSW, winning two more King’s Cups and bringing his total to seven—a testament to his enduring legacy. In 2015, his final year of competitive rowing, he raced in the men’s eight, finishing fifth at World Cup Three and ninth at the World Championships. Later that year, Matt retired from rowing and immediately stepped into coaching at Wesley College in Melbourne, where he now inspires the next generation as the head coach at Melbourne University.
2015 World Championships Australian Eight - Matt in seven seat
Matt Ryan’s journey is a remarkable saga of triumph, resilience, and unwavering passion for the sport he loves.
Some rowing highlights
2001 National Championship Schoolboy Eight – First
2001 Henley Royal Regatta Princess Elizabeth Challenge Cup – First
2002 World Rowing Junior Championships Coxed Four - First
2003 National Championship Under 23 Men’s Eight – First
2003 National Championship Under 23 Men’s Four – First
2003 National Championship Noel F Wilkinson Cup Youth Eight – First
2003 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Eight – Ninth
2003 Under 23 World Rowing Championship Men’s Eight – Third
2004 National Championship Under 23 Men’s Eight – Second
2004 Under 23 World Rowing Championship Men’s Coxed Four – First
2005 World Rowing Championship Men’s four – Ninth
2006 World Rowing Cup I Men’s Four – Fourteenth
2006 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Eight – First
2006 World Rowing Championship Men’s Eight – Fourth
2007 National Championship Men’s Pair – Third
2007 World rowing Cup II Men’s Eight – Tenth
2007 World rowing Cup III Men’s Eight – Sixth
2007 World Championship Men’s Eight – Eighth
2008 National Championship Men’s Coxed Four – First
2008 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First
2008 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Four – First
2008 Olympics Games Beijing Men’s Four – Second
2009 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First
2009 World Rowing Championship Men’s Four – Second
2010 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First
2010 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Four – Fourth
2010 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Four – Fifth
2010 World Rowing Championship Men’s Eight – Third
2011 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First
2011 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Eight – Seventh
2011 World Rowing Championship Men’s Eight – Fourth
2012 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First
2012 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Eight – Sixth
2012 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Eight – First
2012 Olympic Games London Men’s Eight – Sixth
2013 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First
2014 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First
2015 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Eight – Fifth
2015 World Rowing Championship Men’s Eight – Ninth
Jack Hargreaves
December 2024