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| Full name | Ian Gordon Ferguson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | Ferg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1952-06-20)20 June 1952 (age 72) Taumarunui, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relative | Steven Ferguson (son) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Country | New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sport | Canoe racing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Event | canoe sprint | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Partner | Paul MacDonald | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Achievements and titles | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Olympic finals | 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Ian Gordon FergusonMBE (born 20 July 1952) isNew Zealand's second most successful Olympian. He won four Olympic gold medals competing in K1, K2, and K4kayak events, and attended five Summer Olympics between1976 and1992. He also won two canoe sprint world championship titles.
Ferguson was born inTaumarunui on 20 July 1952, the son of Gilbert and Winsome Ferguson.[1] He was educated atPalmerston North Boys' High School,[1] and was an all-round sportsperson, achieving in running andrugby union, and becoming the school swimming champion.[2] Ferguson studied atVictoria University of Wellington, completing aBachelor of Commerce and Administration degree in 1976.[1]
In 1973, Ferguson married his wife, Alyson, and the couple went on to have two children.[1]
At the 1984 Olympic Games inLos Angeles he won three gold medals. In the same year he was namedNew Zealand sportsperson of the year.[3]
In the1985 New Year Honours, Ferguson was appointed aMember of the Order of the British Empire, for services to canoeing.[4]
New Zealand's flagbearer at the opening ceremony of the1988 Summer Olympics,[3] he went on to win another gold medal and a silver medal at that Olympic Games inSeoul,South Korea. He was the first New Zealander to compete in five Olympic Games and his four gold medals was the New Zealand record for an individual haul at the Games until beaten by fellow canoeistLisa Carrington in 2021. His five Olympic medals is the second-highest number of Olympic medals won by a New Zealander, a record he shares with fellow canoeistPaul MacDonald and equestrianMark Todd.[5]
In 1990 Ferguson started a kayak retail and hire business named Ferg's Kayaks.[2]
Ferguson also starred in the NZ TV showClash of the Codes, having been in the winning team on two occasions.
In 2009, Ferguson began fronting a campaign to build an international whitewater canoeing stadium inManukau City.[6]Vector Wero Whitewater Park was opened in 2016, with Ferguson as general manager.[7][8][9]
Ferguson's son,Steven Ferguson, has also represented New Zealand at the Olympic and Commonwealth Games, both in canoeing and swimming events.
| Awards | ||
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| Preceded by | New Zealand's Sportsman of the Year 1984 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Lonsdale Cup of theNew Zealand Olympic Committee 1979 1984 1985(with:Paul MacDonald) | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Succeeded by himself andPaul MacDonald | |
| Preceded by himself | Succeeded by | |
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