Eric Murray is a two-time Olympic Champion having won gold in the coxless pair with crewmate Hamish Bond at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

The pair teamed up in 2009 and formed what would become the most successful combinations in rowing history. Bond and Murray were unbeaten internationally from 2009 until they parted ways in 2016. The duo also holds the world record time in the event (6:08.50), set at the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Murray, the older and bigger of the pair, was born in Hastings in 1982, but grew up in the Bombay Hills, south of Auckland, attending Pukekohe High School.

He initially favoured rugby and only gained an introduction to rowing as a means of training for his preferred code. By 2003 his rowing talent had been noticed and he made the national squad. The following year he was in the New Zealand coxless four for the Athens Olympic Games, alongside Carl Meyer, Donald Leach and Mahe Drysdale. The quartet came 5th overall.

He also competed as part of the coxless four in Beijing 2008 where they finished seventh overall.

Murray retired in 2017 and lives in Cambridge with his wife Jackie and son Zac.

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Eric's Games History

  • Olympic Summer Games Rio 2016

    • Rowing (Pair - Men)
      Men's Pair Finals A (Bond, Murray) 6:59:71
      Men's Pair Semifinals (Bond, Murray) 6:23:36 Q
      Men's Pair Heats (Bond, Murray) 6:41:75 Q
      1
  • Olympic Summer Games London 2012

    • Rowing (Coxless Pair - Men)
      Final A 6:16.65
      Semifinal A/B 1 6:48.11 FA
      Heat 1 6:08.50 S_A/B
      1
  • Olympic Summer Games Beijing 2008

    • Rowing (Coxless Four - Men)
      Final B 6:06.30
      Semifinal A/B - Race 01 5:57.31
      Heat 02 6:00.73
      Placed 7 of 13
  • Olympic Summer Games Athens 2004

    • Rowing (Coxless Four - Men)
      Final A 6:15.47
      Semifinals 5:52.83
      Heats 6:22.91
      Placed 5 of 13