From Wellington to the world for rowing alumnus

Born and raised in Wellington, Phillip had always dreamed of competing on an international stage, but it was witnessing the success of the rowers during the 2008 Games that sparked his interest in the sport.

“It wasn’t until my first year at Wellington College, two years later, that I had an opportunity to give rowing a try. I saw it as a good way to stay fit for the winter sports I played, rugby and basketball, and within a couple of years, I was not only hooked but doing well,” Phillip says.

Growing up in a city surrounded by water, rowing felt like a natural fit, especially as he faced challenges with field sports due to severe hay fever. His early experiences laid the foundation for what would become more than a decade-long journey in the sport, as he quickly climbed the ranks, earning selection for North Island and New Zealand representative teams.

Fuelled by a love for the water and a desire to compete at the highest level, Phillip continued to excel, ultimately realising his dream of competing at the Games – twice. His experiences at the Tokyo and Paris Games were very different, but he says each provided unique lessons.

“Competing at the Games was incredible and a culmination of over 10 years of training and dedication. Tokyo was very restricted, which was helpful for my first Games as it emphasised what I was there for. The most memorable part of Paris was the crowd, especially after the empty stands in Tokyo. It was amazing to warm up for my race and hear cheering across the lake, which grew louder as we neared the finish.”

Phillip says the ambience of the city was another highlight.

“I found it so interesting and cool how the Games became woven into the city and the great landmarks that Paris is known for. They complemented each other very well and I will always remember the Eiffel Tower lighting up while watching a great beach volleyball match.”

Being involved in the Games reinforced the importance of preparation and focus, which Phillip says he found relevant to all areas of his life, including his studies. He graduated earlier this year from Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University with a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise, successfully balancing full-time training with his studies thanks to his lecturers and the High Performance Sport New Zealand Prime Minister’s Scholarship.

“I began my tertiary studies at Otago for a Bachelor of Physiotherapy, but after relocating to Lake Karapiro for full-time training, I couldn’t finish the degree. I’d always had a passion for sport and all it encompasses, so the extramural study options through Massey allowed me to continue in a similar field. I received great support from my lecturers, which helped deepen my understanding of the sport and exercise field.”

Phillip is now embarking on the next phase of his educational journey as he pursues a FIFA Master – International Master in Management, Humanities and Law in Sport. The programme offers a one year course with the International Centre of Sport Studies in partnership with De Montfort University in Leicester, Scuola di Direzione Aziendale Bocconi School of Management in Milan and Neuchatel University in Switzerland.

“The Bachelor of Sport and Exercise at Massey presented diverse opportunities and opened my eyes to the broad applications of sport and society. Now pursuing my master’s, I see it as the perfect progression after my bachelor to learn more about the societal impacts of sport,” he says.

For current students navigating their own paths, Phillip emphasises the important of passion and curiosity.

“Pursue what you love as it makes learning easier and keep an open mind because there’s so much to learn about any field and the world.”