Rob Gibson

Biography

After being an alternate for the gold medal-winning men’s eight at Beijing 2008, Rob Gibson was in the big boat four years later when Canada won silver at London 2012. Gibson has competed at eight senior world championships, winning three medals, highlighted by silver and bronze in the eight in 2009 and 2011, respectively. He first competed internationally at the 2004 World Junior Championships where he captured bronze in the coxed four. He also won two world U23 championship medals, taking gold and silver in the eight in 2006 and 2008, respectively. For winning that U23 world title, he and teammates Will Crothers and Max Lang were honoured with Rowing Canada’s International Achievement Award. While at the University of Washington, Gibson enjoyed an undefeated season in the eight as a junior, winning the PAC-10 and Intercollegiate Rowing Association Championships. Gibson won the national title in the single scull in 2014, a memorable moment for a rower who never considered himself a sculler. He stuck with sculling in 2015, winning gold in the quad and silver in the single at the Pan Am Games in Toronto. He’s also won a pair of World Cup medals with the quad sculls, taking bronze in 2015 and silver in 2016, both in Varese, Italy.

Getting to know…

Family: Parents Ron and Laurie Gibson… Twin sister Katie and younger sister Lindsay… Getting into the Sport: Started rowing at age 16… First time in a boat he was just trying his best not to “catch a crab” but really enjoyed being on the water… Grew up playing hockey, basketball, football… Outside Interests: Graduated from the University of Washington in 2009 with a Bachelor of Arts in geography… Would like to pursue a career in firefighting… Enjoys cooking, reading, trail walking, going to the driving range… Odds and Ends: Favourite mottos: “All Pain, All Gain” and “Win or lose you will never regret working hard, making sacrifices, being disciplined or focusing too much”… Has wanted to compete for Team Canada since watching fellow Kingston boy and role model Simon Whitfield win gold at Sydney 2000… Nickname: Mustang, Gibbo…