Ian Ferguson (canoeist)

Ian Gordon Ferguson ( born July 20, 1952 in Taumarunui, New Zealand ) is a former New Zealand canoeist and rescue athletes.

Ian Ferguson took from 1976 to 1992 five times in Canoeing at the Olympics in part. With four gold medals he is the most successful athletes of New Zealand at the Olympic Games.

Career

After Ferguson 1976 could not reach the final of the one-person kayak, 1980, he was one of only four athletes from New Zealand who participated in spite of the Olympic boycott the games from Moscow. He reached on two routes in one-person kayak the finals and was ranked 7 over 500 meters and 8th place over 1000 meters.

After the games, Ferguson stepped back from racing and set a shop on Auckland. In 1983 he returned to competitive sports and became Vice World Champion over 500 meters.

1984 Eastern Bloc boycotted the Olympics. Ian Ferguson won the distance over 500 meters in one kayak and together with Paul MacDonald and the 500 meters in a double kayak. Both canoeists then sat still in the foursome, who also won gold.

By winning the world title in the double kayak over 500 meters in 1985 and over 1000 meters in 1987 proved Ferguson and MacDonald that they could exist even if all countries were at the start.

Family

Ferguson and his wife Alison have two sons: Steven was a successful swimmer and participated in the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney in the 100m and 200m breaststroke in part. At the Olympic Games in Athens in 2004, he participated in the canoe competitions in one and two ( with Ben Fouhy ).

Rescue Sport

Ferguson was also one of the best athletes of New Zealand rescue. He was national champion in Ironman, surf skis and long board race in 1972. After that, he still won the Ironman title in 1974, 75 and 76, the Surf Ski Race in 1976, 77 and 90, and the paddle board race in 1976. He also won gold and silver medals at the World Championships in rescue sport.