Daniel Williamson

Dan began his rowing career rowing for Counties-Manukau Rowing Club and Howick College in 2014. After a successful season in his novice year, Daniel moved to King’s College in Auckland. This kick-started Dan’s rowing success at school level. In his last two years of high school, Dan and his crew mates earned four Gold and 2 Bronze medals at the Aon Maadi Cup, including Gold in the coveted U18 Pair while Dan and his partner were only 16 years old.

Dan was selected for the New Zealand Junior Team to compete in the Junior Men’s Coxless Four to compete at the 2017 World Rowing Junior Championships in Trakai, Lithuania. Dan teamed up with Thomas Russel, Matt MacDonald and Ben Taylor to earn a Silver medal.

Upon returning to New Zealand, Dan finished his last year of high school at King’s College and joined Auckland RPC. There, Dan only became more dominant in his rowing. At the 2018 Rocket Foods New Zealand Rowing Championships, Dan won the U20 Pair, U22 Pair, and U22 Coxless Four in dominant fashion, leading Dan to forgo his World Rowing Junior Championship eligibility and be selected straight into the New Zealand U23 team, to compete at the 2018 World Rowing U23 Championships in Poznan, Poland. This time teaming up with Thomas Russel, Tom Mackintosh, and Matthew MacDonald, Dan took home a Bronze medal in the Men’s Four.

At the conclusion of his 2018 U23 campaign, Dan headed to the US to study at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut. Upon arrival, Dan joined Yale’s top Varsity crew, taking the stroke seat of the crew and leading them to an IRA National University Championship win.

Due to COVID-19 Dan returned to New Zealand in 2020. Dan was taken straight into the newly formed New Zealand Elite Development Team, allowing him to train at Lake Karapiro with the New Zealand Elite Team. At the 2021 Rocket Foods New Zealand Rowing Championships, Dan teamed up with Micheal Brake to earn Silver in the men’s premier pair for Auckland RPC. He then later captained his Eight to a Silver medal in the Men’s Premier Eight.

Then after only securing a boat for Tokyo via the last-chance qualification regatta in Lucerne in May 2021, the Men's Eight (with Daniel at 5 seat) went on to reclaim the title after a near 50-year wait in an exhilarating final by winning Olympic Gold.

Dan grew up in Beachlands, Auckland. Outside of rowing Dan enjoys fishing and being outdoors.