Trevor Coker
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| Born | 1 October 1949 | |||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Trevor Ian Coker (1 October 1949 – 23 August 1981) was a former New Zealand rower who won two Olympic medals in his career. He was born in Wanganui, New Zealand. Coker was a trained teacher.
Won the European Championship in 1971 and was awarded NZ sportsperson of the year (with his respective teams) in 1971 and 1972.
At the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich he teamed with Dick Joyce, Wybo Veldman, John Hunter, Lindsay Wilson, Athol Earl, Tony Hurt and Gary Robertson and Simon Dickie (cox) to win the Gold medal in the eights. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal he again crewed the eight which this time won the Bronze medal. His crewmates this time were Alex McLean, Ivan Sutherland, Tony Hurt, Peter Dignan, Lindsay Wilson, Athol Earl and Dave Rodger and Simon Dickie (cox).
NZ Olympian #266.
Coker won the NZ national championships in the 4s in '74, '75 and '76 and with the 8s in 1976. Won Bronze at the World Championships in 1974 and 1975.
Coker died of a brain tumour in 1981. His team-mates stayed close to his wife and son; assisting with financial support.
Trevor and the 1972 Gold medal team were inducted into the NZ Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
In 1997, the 1972 team travelled back to the course at Munich to mark the 25 year anniversay. Coker was the only member not present.
NZ Secondary schools rowing teams compete today for the Coker Memorial Shield.