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When Ian Ferguson first competed at an Olympic
Games in 1976 and even again when he was one of the tiny team in
Moscow in 1980, few would have seen him as one of New Zealand’s
greatest sportsmen. Yet that’s what he became – two gold medals in
one day in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984, then another
the next day.
Four years later, in Seoul, there was another gold medal, plus a
silver. There were also world titles in 1985 and 1987 plus several
world silver medals. Ian Ferguson
is the only New Zealander to have competed in five Olympic Games and
his four gold medals is also a record. But that wasn’t all. Ferguson
also won gold and silver competing for New Zealand in surf
lifesaving.
In the same manner as many other aspiring young New Zealanders, Ian
began his successful and rewarding sporting career with school-boy
representative rugby and running honours.
He was also the Palmerston North Boys High School swimming champion,
displaying a love of the water and indicating that the potential was
there for better things to come.
There are not many water sports that Ian does not enjoy and perform
well, including water skiing, surfing and surf ski paddling. He has
excelled at surf-lifesaving, with four New Zealand Iron Man titles
to his credit, as well as New Zealand Representative Team honours.
The highlights of his career however are his achievements as a
canoeist. Ian first started competing nationally in the kayak in
1974. He attended his first Olympic Games in Montreal, Canada, in
1976. Some of the most memorable performances in New Zealand
sporting history were recorded in Los Angeles, in 1984, where Ian
became the first and only New Zealander to win three Gold Medals at
one Olympic Games.
His outstanding success as an individual in the K1 500m, with Paul
MacDonald in the K2 500m and with Alan Thompson, Grant Bramwell and
Paul MacDonald in the K4 1000m, was applauded by the public of New
Zealand who looked upon Ian as the newest of the sporting heroes.
Ian was further rewarded by New Zealand when he won the prestigious
Sportsman of the Year Award later on that year.
In 1985 Ian won Gold at the 1985 World Championships in Hazewinkel,
Belgium and later that year was made a Member of the British
Empire in the New Years Honours, for his services and
achievements in the sport he loves.
At the 1987 World Kayak Championships in Duisburg, Germany, Ian won
Gold in the K2 1000m and Silver in the K2 500m, teaming up in both
races with partner Paul MacDonald.
At the 1988 Seoul Olympic Games, the duo reversed their placings of
the previous year and won Gold in the K2 500m and Silver in the K2
1000m events.
Ian and Paul raced together since 1980. They are the most successful
pairing in World Gold medals with five World Gold medals. Between
them they have 11 World Championship medals and 10 Olympic medals.
Ian retired from International competition after the 1992 Barcelona
Olympic Games. Since then he has continued kayaking at a recreation
level to keep fit enough to compete in several multisport events as
well as and occasional National Kayak Championship and New Zealand
Surf Life-saving Championships.
Ian also became well known to the New Zealand public for his
sporting skills in the much acclaimed television show, Clash of the
Codes, twice being in the winning team. Also he was the super-judge
for the four year stint of Top Town.
1996 was the Centenary of the Olympic Movement and each country was
given a Bronze Statue by the International Olympic Committee to
present to their most outstanding athlete throughout those 100 years
of competition. The New Zealand Olympic Organisation awarded Ian
with the highest honour it could bestow on one of its athletes,
naming him “Olympian of the Century”.
Since retiring internationally, Ian has been able to spend more time
building up his kayak business, Fergs Kayaks, which
he started at the end of 1990. The business has become a fast
growing enterprise (New Zealand’s largest kayak outlet) dealing in
all aspects of kayaking, involving retail, general hire, coaching,
guided trips, school groups and team building. Inline skating has
become a popular past-time in Auckland and Ferg’s Kayaks
is the leading hire outlet on the waterfront.
The success of Auckland led Ian to open a similar shop in Wellington
with the added attraction of a 12m rock-climbing wall. The shop is
situated in a prime location on the waterfront at Queens Wharf.
Chairman NZ Dragon Boat Association President NZ Canoe
Federation Sprint Director NZ Canoe Racing National Coach NZ Canoe
Association Professional speaker/Team building
Coach
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Topics
Personal Appearances
Motivational Speaker
Inspiration
After dinner speeches
Team building coach |
