Tim McLaren OAM Sport Australia Hall of Fame Inductee

Rowing NSW would like to acknowledge and congratulate Tim McLaren OAM from UTS Haberfield Rowing Club on his induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Membership to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is limited to the top echelon of Australian Athletes and Coaches.

Tim has been recognised for his achievements and significant impact both on and off the water in Australia and internationally in China, Great Britain and the US.

As an athlete Tim started rowing at Bulli Surf Life Saving and made the transition to St George Rowing Club in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire. Leading to multiple national titles and culminating in a silver medal in the Quad Scull at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics.

Switching to coaching Tim’s imprint on the sport only grew. First reshaping Tasmanian rowing as state coaching director then becoming the foundation coach of UTS Rowing Club in 1992. As coach he mentored a wave of Australian representatives and Olympians, including the double sculls gold-medal winning team of Peter Antonie and Stephen Hawkins at the 1992 Barcelona Games. Tim has coached crews to multiple Olympic Medals and World Championship titles in stints as Head coach for both the the Australian and US teams.

Tim's specific contribution to NSW rowing extends to the State Team coaching multiple teams to victory including breaking NSW's 20 year Kings Cup drought in 2004. Most recently the winning The Noel F Wilkinson Trophy in 2022 and 2023.

McLaren’s commitment to rowing across more than 40 years, both as a competitor and as a coach and educator has stamped him as one of the sport’s most influential contributors and preeminent coaches, his elevation to the Hall of Fame is fitting recognition.

Click here to read the full Sport Australia Hall of Fame.