Two time Olympic rowing champion Hamish Bond is returning to the water after spending the last two years competing in cycling.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Bond has been named in Rowing New Zealand's Summer Squad training programme.
After switching to the bike in 2017, Bond won a bronze medal at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 and more recently a national record in the individual pursuit.
The 33-year-old is vying for selection into the men's eight crew in early April, with his eyes set on Tokyo 2020 in the boat
"When I stepped away from rowing after the Rio Olympics in 2016, I had achieved everything I set out to in the men's pair," Bond said.
"After two years away from the sport I have come to the decision that there are more things I would like to achieve in rowing before my time is done. At any level, the men's and women's eights are the most exciting events in the sport, and representing New Zealand in a bigger crew has become a challenge and opportunity I can't ignore.''
'There's a chance Tokyo could be my last opportunity to race at the Olympics or to compete on the bigger stage' - Hamish Bond
Rowing NZ chief executive Simon Peterson said Bond's past achievements rowing and more recently in cycling were proof enough that his natural talents and hunger for success were an unstoppable force.
"We're obviously very happy to have Hamish return to the Rowing NZ programme and look forward to seeing him out on the water again."
Former Olympic rowing champion Hamish Bond finished 25th. Photo: Robert Jones
Bond's previous rowing career includes Olympic Gold medals in 2012 and 2016, seven World Championships titles in the men's pair and men's coxed pair alongside Eric Murray and a World Championship title in the men's four.
Bond and Murray also claimed World Best Times in two boat classes - the men's pair and men's coxed pair - and both these times stand today.
Off the water, Bond and Murray won New Zealand's supreme Halberg Award on two occasions, and were appointed to the New Zealand Order of Merit for their services to rowing in 2013. In 2018 they were awarded rowing's most prestigious international award, the Thomas Keller Medal.