World champion in 1998 and 1999, and Olympic champion in 2000 – he was an unstoppable force. But there was more than just his strength, determination and technique: he was an inspiration and a standardbearer. His Olympic gold was New Zealand’s first in rowing since Los Angeles in 1984 and his country’s only gold in Sydney. Waddell’s performance and example laid down the marker for the years of success for New Zealand rowing that were to follow. Rob Waddell also set numerous world records both on and off the water during the 1998-2000 period. He competed again at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008 (in the double sculls) and spent more than a decade as a member of the New Zealand America’s Cup team. Return to the Inductee list