Hamish Bond hangs up oars

‘‘Rowing for the bulk of my career has defined me as a person.’’ Hamish Bond

Three-time Olympic gold medallist Hamish Bond has retired from rowing. The highly decorated Bond, 35, regarded as one of New Zealand’s greatest Olympians, announced his decision to step aside from the sport yesterday.

Bond and Eric Murray won gold medals in the coxless pair at the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro and the 2012 Games in London. When Murray retired, Bond switched his focus to the men’s eight and snared his third gold when the New Zealand boat won the final at the Games in Tokyo last year.

The success in Tokyo was the first time the New Zealand men’s eight had won a gold medal since 1972, and the first medal since 1976. Bond became the first New Zealand rower to win gold medals at three successive Olympic Games.

It entrenched his reputation as the nearest rival to athletics great Peter Snell as New Zealand’s greatest male Olympian.

Last year Bond and Murray were crowned the Supreme Decade Champions at the Halberg Awards. They had previously won the Supreme Halberg Award twice, in 2012 and 2014. They were also named the team of the decade.

Bond, the first male New Zealander to win three successive Olympic gold medals, is also an eight-time world champion.

He said he had known for a while it was the right time to hang up the oars.

‘‘It does feel strange saying that I’m retiring but I feel very fortunate to be walking away while at the top of the sport,’’ Bond said. ‘‘Rowing for the bulk of my career has defined me as a person, I now have my family and other priorities and it feels like the right move to make.’’

Bond said he never could have imagined what would follow when he began rowing as a 13-year-old at Otago Boys’ High

School. ‘‘I’ve been incredibly privileged to have gone on this journey and my career has far exceeded anything I dared to dream when I was starting out.

‘‘I never anticipated having the success that followed.’’

He said the ‘‘obvious pinnacles for me’’ were winning his first Olympic gold medal in London and winning gold with the eight in Tokyo. He described them as ‘‘phenomenal memories’’.

Bond said he considered retiring before the Tokyo Olympic Games.

He credits his wife, Lizzie, with keeping him in the sport.

‘‘The last few years have been challenging for everyone, not just athletes, and there were times when I seriously considered calling it a day,’’ Bond added.

‘‘It was taking more and more mental discipline to keep going and I could feel my hunger to punish myself in training waning.

‘‘It was Lizzie who gave me a kick and said: no, you’re not ending things like this; and I really needed that to keep going and finish my sporting career in the right way.’’

He said he was now looking forward to spending more time at home in Mt Maunganui. He and Lizzie are proud parents of Finlay, Imogen and Phoebe. Bond has a bachelor of business studies (finance) and a graduate diploma in personal financial planning.

‘‘My main focus is family and being a parent for the next while, and just working out my next step,’’ Bond said. ‘‘I’m just going to take my time and enjoy the summer with my family.’’