Mahé Drysdale facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mahé Drysdale
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Drysdale in 2025
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| Mayor of Tauranga | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed office 2 August 2024 |
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| Deputy | Jen Scoular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | Vacant | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Born | 19 November 1978 Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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| Spouse |
Juliette Haigh
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| Relatives |
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Alexander Mahé Owens Drysdale (born 19 November 1978) is a New Zealand politician and a former rower. He is famous for winning two Olympic gold medals and five world championships in single sculls, which is a type of rowing boat for one person. Mahé Drysdale has also won the New Zealand Sportsman of the Year award five times. He is currently the mayor of Tauranga, a city in New Zealand.
Contents
Mahé Drysdale's Early Life and Background
Mahé Drysdale was born in Australia, but his parents were from New Zealand. He was named after Mahé, the largest island in the Seychelles. He went to Tauranga Boys' College in Tauranga, New Zealand. Later, he attended the University of Auckland where he started rowing when he was 18 years old.
He stopped rowing for a while to focus on his studies. However, he started again after watching fellow New Zealander Rob Waddell win a gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games. Drysdale trained at the West End Rowing Club in Auckland, New Zealand. He was also a member of the Tideway Scullers School in London.
Mahé Drysdale's Rowing Career
World Championship Wins
Mahé Drysdale first competed for New Zealand in 2002. After the 2004 Olympic Games, he switched to racing in the single scull boat. He won his first World Championship title in 2005 in Japan. This was amazing because he had broken two bones in his back earlier that year!
He continued to win the World Championship title in 2006, 2007, 2009, and 2011. In 2009, he even set a new world best time for the single scull, finishing in 6 minutes and 33.35 seconds. This record was later beaten by another New Zealander, Robbie Manson, in 2017.
Olympic Games Achievements
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In his first Olympic Games in 2004, Drysdale was part of the New Zealand team that finished fifth.
For the Beijing Olympics in 2008, Mahé Drysdale was chosen to represent New Zealand in the heavyweight single scull. He was also given the honor of carrying the New Zealand flag during the opening ceremony. Unfortunately, he became very sick just before his final race. Because of his illness, he could only win the bronze medal. After the race, he was so unwell that he had to be helped off the water.
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Drysdale won the gold medal in the men's single sculls. He successfully defended his Olympic title at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, winning another gold medal. This race was incredibly close, decided by a photo finish against Croatia's Damir Martin.
After the 2016 Olympics, Drysdale took a break from rowing. He returned to the New Zealand team in late 2017, hoping to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. However, he was not selected for the single scull event. In June 2021, he announced his retirement from international rowing.
New Zealand National Championships
Drysdale won the gold medal in single sculls at the New Zealand national championships six times by 2010. In 2011, he won a silver medal. He won the national title again in 2012.
Other Rowing Successes
In 2018, he won the Diamond Challenge Sculls title for the sixth time at the Henley Royal Regatta. This is a very important event for single scullers.
Canoe Polo Experience
Besides rowing, Mahé Drysdale also played canoe polo for New Zealand as a junior. He was part of the under-18 team that visited Fiji and an under-21 team that toured Tonga.
Awards and Recognition
Mahé Drysdale has won the Sportsman of the Year award at the Halberg Awards five times (in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012, and 2016). He is the only New Zealander to have won this award more than three times. In 2006, he also won the top Halberg Supreme Prize.
In 2007, he received the University of Auckland Young Alumnus of the Year Award. In 2009, he was made a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his great contributions to rowing.
Mahé Drysdale's Political Career
On 19 May 2024, Mahé Drysdale announced that he would run for mayor of Tauranga. On 20 July 2024, he was elected as mayor. He officially started his role on 2 August 2024. Jen Scoular became the deputy mayor.
On 14 October 2024, the Tauranga City Council voted to add fluoride to the city's water supply. This decision was made after a request from the Director-General of Health. Mayor Drysdale voted against this decision. He said he was concerned about how fluoride might affect people's health. He wanted more proof that adding fluoride to water is safe.
Mahé Drysdale's Personal Life
Mahé Drysdale is married to Juliette Haigh, who is also a rower and an Olympic bronze medallist. They got married in September 2013 and have one daughter, who was born in October 2014.
Mahé Drysdale has some other famous relatives. His cousin, Rose Keddell, plays for the New Zealand women's hockey team. His younger brother, Peter, is a cricketer. His grandfather, Bob Owens, was also the mayor of Tauranga from 1968 to 1977.
See also
In Spanish: Mahé Drysdale para niños
