Richard Curtin (born 25 August 1951) is an Australian former representative

rower Rowing, often called crew in the United States, is the sport of racing boats using oars. It differs from paddling sports in that rowing oars (called blades in the United Kingdom) are attached to the boat using rowlocks, while paddles are ...

. He competed in the men's eight event at the

1972 Summer Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and officially branded as Munich 1972 (; ), were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. It was the ...

and at the

1974 World Rowing Championships The 1974 World Rowing Championships was the fourth World Rowing Championships. It was held from 4 to 8 September 1974 (for men) and from 29 August to 1 September 1974 (for women) on the Rotsee in Lucerne, Switzerland. The event was significantl ...

Club and state rowing

Curtin was educated at

St Ignatius' College, Riverview Saint Ignatius' College Riverview is an Australian independent single-sex primary and secondary day and boarding school for boys located in Riverview, a small suburb on the Lane Cove River on the Lower North Shore of Sydney. Established in ...

in Sydney where he took up rowing. His senior club rowing was from the

Sydney Rowing Club Sydney Rowing Club is the oldest rowing club in New South Wales, Australia formed in 1870. It has occupied its current site on Port Jackson's Parramatta River at Abbotsford, New South Wales, Abbotsford Point since 1874. The club has a focus on it ...

. Curtin first made state selection for New South Wales in the senior men's eight of 1972 winning the

King's Cup King's Cup (incl. translations), may refer to: Sports Football * Copa del Rey, Spanish for "King's Cup," the main national knockout tournament in men's football * King's Cup (Bahrain), the premier national knockout football tournament * King's ...

at the Interstate Regatta within the

Australian Rowing Championships The Australian Rowing Championships is an annual rowing event that determines Australia's national rowing champions and facilitates selection of Australian representative crews for World Championships and the Olympic Games. It is Australia's pre ...

. That entire crew won selection as the Australian eight to compete at the

1972 Munich Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and officially branded as Munich 1972 (; ), were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. It was the ...

. Curtin then competed in New South Wales contesting the King's Cup in 1973 and 1974 rowing to another victory in 1974 from the three seat. At the 1974

he contested the men's coxed pair title with his brother

Bryan Bryan may refer to: Places in the United States * Bryan, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Bryan, Kentucky, an unincorporated community * Bryan, Ohio, a city * Bryan, Texas, a city * Bryan, Wyoming, a ghost town * Bryan County, Georgia * ...

, placing second in

colours. In 1975 he stroked a Sydney composite four which competed for both the coxed and coxless four titles 1975 Australian Championships

International representative rowing

Following their victory in the 1972

the New South Wales senior eight was selected stern through to bow as the Australian eight to represent at

Munich Munich is the capital and most populous city of Bavaria, Germany. As of 30 November 2024, its population was 1,604,384, making it the third-largest city in Germany after Berlin and Hamburg. Munich is the largest city in Germany that is no ...

. Before they departed five months later the two man Ian McWhirter had been diagnosed with liver cancer. Kerry Jelbart of

Melbourne University Boat Club Melbourne University Boat Club is a rowing club in Melbourne, Australia. Its clubhouse or "boat shed" is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register in 2000. According its website, the club claims to be "the oldest rowing club in Australia". In 2015, ...

took McWhirter's place. The Australians finished fourth in their heat, won a repechage, finished fifth in the semi-final and eighth overall. Curtin, his brother

, along with the coxswain, coach and five other members of the victorious 1974 NSW King's Cup crew were selected as the Australian men's eight to compete at the

in Lucerne. The eight finished in 2nd place in the petite final for an overall eight placing. The following year Donnelly was again in the stern of the Australian eight that finished in sixth place at the

1975 World Rowing Championships The 1975 World Rowing Championships was the fifth World Rowing Championships. It was held from 21 to 30 August at Holme Pierrepont National Watersports Centre in Nottingham, England, United Kingdom. Medal summary Medalists at the 1975 World ...

in Nottingham.1975 World Championships
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Curtin, Richard 1951 births Living people Australian male rowers Olympic rowers for Australia Rowers at the 1972 Summer Olympics Place of birth missing (living people) 20th-century Australian sportsmen