It’s an astounding statistic: at the 30 summer Olympic Games since the first in 1896, 31 Newingtonians have competed for Australia. Throw in the 1906 Athens ‘Intercalated Games’ – which, at the time, were recognised as an Olympics – and the College’s record is even more impressive.
Of the 173 gold medals won by Australia before Paris 2024, four were won by former Newington students. They’ve brought home a further six silver and 15 bronze.
From rowing to rugby, the pool to the podium, Newingtonians have been there, alongside the very best in the world, throughout the modern Olympic era.
There’s Michael Morgan OAM, who competed in rowing in Mexico City (1968) and Munich (1972), then returned to coach in Montreal (1976). David Forbes OAM, who won gold in in sailing in Munich (1972) after competing in Mexico City, and again in Montreal. Equestrian Phil Dutton OAM, who twice won gold for Australia (Atlanta 1996 and Sydney 2000) and competed in 2004, then joined Team USA to compete at a further five Games, and Paralympian athlete Stephen Wilson OAM (ON 1987), a dual gold medalist in Sydney, who added silver and bronze to his haul at Athens 2004 and bronze again in Beijing in 2008.
Geoff and James Stewart (ON 1991) have the remarkable honour of being the first Olympic twins to row together, donning the green and gold to debut in Atlanta. The carbon-copy brothers delighted crowds on the water and on the podium, winning bronze in both Sydney and Athens … and making up half the coxless four!
Then there’s Paris 2024.
An incredible six former Newington students travelled to the City of Lights chasing Olympic glory.
Equestrian Shane Rose competed in his fourth Games riding Virgil at the stunning Château de Versailles. Basketballer Nick Kay, lauded for his skill and intelligence on the court, is back with the Boomers in his second Olympic appearance. It was also the second time round for Rugby 7s powerhouse Nathan Lawson, who was joined in Paris by Olympic debutante James Turner. Chaz Poot is building on 17 World Championship appearances with the formidable Sharks’ water polo team, competing in his first Olympics. Long distance runner Morgan McDonald, who brought his coaching prowess to Newington in 2021, backed up his Olympic showing at Tokyo 2020 to compete in the gruelling 5000m at the Stade de France in St Denis.
It’s quite a list … and something Newington’s acting Head of Sport Sam Irwin reflects on with pride and awe.
‘It’s inspiring,’ Mr Irwin says.
‘Of course, Olympians are born with an astounding amount of natural talent but that alone won’t translate to representing the nation on sport’s biggest global stage.
‘It takes countless hours of training, the resilience to get back up when things don’t go your way, determination in the face of defeat and willingness to take advice and try alternative methods.’
They are things Newington’s Director of Aquatics Ryan Moar knows about firsthand.
He coached the Australian Stingers women’s water polo teams to bronze, first in Beijing 2008 and again at London 2012.
‘These are qualities we talk about to Newington students every day, no matter what their level of participation,’ Mr Moar says.
Mr Irwin describes Newington sport as ‘robust, challenging, and fun.’
‘We value enjoyment, courage, integrity, effort and mateship.
‘Those build engagement and connection between students and with staff and coaches. That engagement and connection builds mutual trust. And once you have that, skill development, strategy, game understanding and performance follow, both individually and as a team.
‘And that’s what gets results.’
*Medal numbers do not include Paris 2024.
Newington’s Olympic heroes
| Name | Peer year* | Sport | Olympic Games | Details |
| Nigel Barker | 1901 | Athletics | 1906 Athens (interim Olympics – not official Games) | 1906 100m Bronze 1906 400m Bronze |
| Roy Barker | 1902 | Rowing | 1912 Stockholm | 1912 Men’s VIII reserve |
| Tom Chessell | 1931 | Rowing | 1952 Helsinki | 1952 Men’s VIII Bronze |
| Fred Kirkham | 1956 | Rowing | 1956 Melbourne | 1956 Men’s VIII Bronze |
| Peter Paige | 1956 | Judo | 1964 Tokyo | 1964 Men’s Middleweight |
| Michael Morgan OAM | 1964 | Rowing | 1968 Mexico City 1972 Munich 1976 Montreal | 1968 Men’s VIII Silver Competed 1972 1976 coach |
| David Forbes OAM | 1951 | Sailing | 1968 Mexico City 1972 Munich 1976 Montreal | 1972 Star – Open Gold Competed 1968, 1976 |
| Vern Bowrey | 1965 | Rowing | 1972 Munich | 1972 Men’s coxed IV |
| Kim Mackney | 1966 | Rowing | 1972 Munich | 1972 Men’s coxless pair |
| Stuart Carter | 1976 | Rowing | 1976 Montreal | 1976 Men’s VIII |
| Steve Handley | 1974 | Rowing | 1980 Moscow | 1980 Men’s VIII |
| Robert Smith | 1960 | Shooting | 1992 Barcelona | 1992 Manager and coach of shooting team |
| Greg Bennett | 1989 | Triathlon | 2000 Sydney 2004 Athens | 2000 Reserve Competed 2004 |
| Richard Wearne | 1989 | Rowing | 1996 Atlanta | 1996 Men’s VIII |
| Geoff Stewart | 1991 | Rowing | 1996 Atlanta 2000 Sydney 2004 Athens | Competed 1996 2000 Coxless IV Bronze 2004 Men’s VIII Bronze |
| James Stewart | 1991 | Rowing | 1996 Atlanta 2000 Sydney 2004 Athens | Competed 1996 2000 Coxless IV Bronze 2004 Men’s VIII Bronze |
| Phillip Dutton OAM | 1979 | Equestrian | 1996 Atlanta 2000 Sydney 2004 Athens 2008 Beijing 2012 London 2016 Rio 2020 Tokyo | Australian team: 1996 Equestrian Gold 2000 Equestrian Gold Competed 2004. USA team: 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020 2016 Bronze |
| Robert Jahrling | 1992 | Rowing | 1996 Atlanta 2000 Sydney 2004 Athens | Competed 1996, 2004 2000 Men’s VIII Silver |
| Stephen Wilson OAM | 1987 | Paralympic athletics | 2000 Sydney 2004 Athens 2008 Beijing | 2000 2 x Gold 2004 Silver, Bronze 2008 Bronze |
| Matthew Long | 1993 | Rowing | 2000 Sydney | 2000 Coxless pair Bronze |
| Stephen Stewart | 1995 | Rowing | 2004 Athens 2008 Beijing | 2004 Men’s VIII Bronze Competed 2008 |
| James Chapman | 1997 | Rowing | 2004 Athens 2008 Beijing 2012 London | 2004 Reserve 2008 Men’s VIII 2012 Coxless IV Silver |
| Shane Rose | 1991 | Equestrian | 2008 Beijing 2016 Rio 2020 Tokyo 2024 Paris | 2008 Silver 2016 Bronze 2020 Silver Competed 2024 |
| James Clark | 2008 | Water Polo | 2012 London | Competed 2012 |
| Nick Kay | 2010 | Basketball | 2020 Tokyo 2024 Paris | 2020 Bronze Competed 2024 |
| Morgan McDonald | 2013 | Athletics | 2020 Tokyo 2024 Paris | Competed 2020, 2024 |
| Sam Hardy | 2013 | Rowing | 2020 Tokyo | Competed 2020 |
| Anthony Hrysanthos | 2013 | Water Polo | 2020 Tokyo | Competed 2020 |
| Nathan Lawson | 2016 | Rugby 7s | 2020 Tokyo 2024 Paris | Competed 2020, 2024 |
| James Turner | 2016 | Rugby 7s | 2024 Paris | Competed 2024 |
| Chaz Poot | 2016 | Water Polo | 2024 Paris | Competed 2024 |
