Celebrity Speakers - Book inspirational and motivational speakers & entertainers for corporate, association & social events

Rob Waddell has earned plenty of titles. He’s been labeled every thing from a sporting icon to a freak, hero to zero, iceberg grinder, but most recently and deservedly he was named an Officer of the NZ Order of Merit for his services to Rowing.

Rob’s best known as New Zealand’s only Gold Medallist at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. This was the peak of Rob’s long list of firsts in the sport of Rowing and Single Sculling.

In 1995 he burst onto the NZ rowing scene as the youngest person ever to win a single sculls title at the NZ Championships – he did this as a novice sculler.

Just one year later he won 6/7 NZ national titles and then came 7th at the Atlanta Olympics.

The following two years, Rob won the World Single Sculls rowing titles in Germany and Canada breaking records on the water and in indoor rowing. At this time he was also the first recipient to win the Sportsperson of the Year Supreme Halberg Award for 3 consecutive years.

In a less public arena, Rob also completed a Bachelor of Management Studies with Honours during this time.

Not one to rely on success, Rob faced a fresh challenge in 2001, to trial as a grinder for the then triumphant, but somewhat decimated Team NZ and the rest is history.

He has been a Key part of 2 Americas cup sailing teams, most recently the nail biting final in Valencia.

Rob is an excellent role model who has clearly demonstrated the benefits of applying his management and planning skills, and what can be achieved through preparation, training and determination.