Ian Ferguson

When Ian Ferguson first competed at an Olympic Games in 1976 and even again when he was one of the tiny team in Moscow in 1980, few would have seen him as one of New Zealand’s greatest sportsmen. Yet that’s what he became – two gold medals (K1 and K2 500 m) in one day in the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 1984, then another the next day (K4 1000 m).

Four years later, in Seoul, there was another gold medal (K2 500 m), plus a silver (K2 1000 m). At the Flatwater World Championships he won five medals: gold 1985 K2 500 m and 1987 K2 1000 m, silver 1983 K1 500 m, 1987 K2 500 m, and 1990 K2 10000 m. In all the K2 events he partnered with Paul MacDonald. Ferguson also won gold and silver competing for New Zealand in surf lifesaving. A son, Steven Ferguson, competed in swimming at the 2000 Games and in kayaking in 2004 and 2008.