Will Thompson | Sport

I was born in Cambridge in 2001 where I still reside.

I attended James Gray Kindergarten, Karapiro School and Hautapu School before attending Hamilton Boys High School for my secondary education. I have since graduated from Hamilton Boys High School where I was a prefect last year.

I am passionate about rowing and love the hard work and commitment required in the sport, it has helped develop me into the person I am today. I constantly push myself to the limit to achieve on the water. I love the comradeship between team mates and fellow competitors and always strive to be the best that I can be in every training and every race. I think one of my greatest strengths in a race is my mental ability to push through the pain to the very end and to never give up.

From about the age of four I would always beg my father who was a rowing coach to take me out in the coach boat before and after kindergartenschool each day. Many people would slowly start to get bored of watching rowers continuously train for 20km, but I was the odd one out and enjoyed it the more I watched it, I used to even try and tell Dad what his rowers could improve in the boat.

Rowing hasn’t been my only sporting field. ever since I started sport at the age of 5, I have never stopped, I love the physicality.
I have competed in Rugby, Triathlon, Swimming, Track Cycling, Road Cycling, Adventure Racing, kayaking, and currently Rowing. I have competed at the top end nationally in Swimming, Kayaking and Rowing where I have Gained National titles in these sports.

I really enjoy competing in a range of sports to keep the enjoyment levels high and gain a wide variety of skills. all these sports have also helped me develop a huge passion for my current sport (Rowing) and have contributed in some way.

I am very committed to the task at hand and will never give up even when times aren’t going to plan. This has helped me with the achievements I have made in sport and general life as I have found that I am able to over come obstacles and constantly strive for excellence.