Another medal for Murray and Bond
THEY may not have rowed together for the best part of two years but Eric Murray and Hamish Bond are still picking up rowing awards.
The double Olympic champions have won the Thomas Keller Medal, which celebrates athletes who have had an outstanding career in rowing. It honours those who have shown exemplary sportsmanship and technical mastery of the sport as well as a legendary aspect both inside and outside of their rowing career.
The medal was awarded to Murray and Bond by the World Rowing Federation, FISA.
The pair set an unprecedented 69race winning streak. This streak included two Olympic Gold medals (2012 and 2016) and eight World Championships titles. They also claimed World Best Times in two boat classes, the men’s pair and men’s coxed pair. These times still stand today.
Medals will be awarded at the 2018 World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland, on July 14, 2018. During the award ceremony, an 18carat gold medal will be bestowed on Murray and Bond by Dominik Keller, son of FISA’s former president Thomas Keller.
‘‘We set out to win a few races and compete against the world, and the byproduct of trying to be the best we could be consistently, has left a legacy which will be there forever. We’ve always been privileged to represent our country and the sport of rowing to the wider global community,’’ Murray said.
Bond, who is cycling in Wales, said being nominated for the highest honour in the sport was pretty special.
‘‘When you look at the list of previous winners, the potential to have your name up along such luminaries is more than I ever expected to achieve in the sport. Typically the award is given to individuals but given that my career has been intertwined with Eric’s, it’s an honour to win this award together.’’