Sean P Colgan
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC), Leander Club (UK), Vesper Rowing Club (USA), University of Pennsylvania Boat Club (USA)
Sean has been an accomplished rower throughout his life, a successful coach (when time has allowed away from his business life), and more recently, a great benefactor to the sport worldwide.
His resume from the Colgan Foundation website provides an excellent summary of his work.
A native of Philadelphia, and the product of a Catholic education, Sean Padraic Colgan discovered the sport of rowing in High school and expanded as an international economics student at the University of Pennsylvania. Upon graduation in 1977 he received the Hobson Award, given to the varsity athlete with the highest academic average. Some of the highlights of Colgan’s illustrious 20-year rowing career include: Silver Medal and Bronze Medal in the World Championships in Lightweight 8 (1975, 1976); a Gold Medal in the Pan American Games in Eight (1979); Silver Medal as a member of the US Olympic Team Eight at the World Cup Championships (1980); National Champion Single Sculls (1982); Team Captain, Bronze Medal Pan American Games Single Sculls (1983); Bronze Medal World Cup Championships Quadruple Scull (1984); Coach, Gold Medal Eight at Pan American Games (2011); and Technical Director, El Salvador Rowing at the London Olympics (2012).
Today Colgan resides in Delray Beach, Florida, and New Zealand, and serves as the Chairman, Owner, and Founder of International Materials (Bryn Mawr, PA, and Delray Beach, FL), a minerals trading company and numerous other international companies he has founded. Colgan continues his commitment to the sport of rowing through the Colgan Foundation where CF supports New Zealand, Mercantile, Ukraine, UK and El Salvador. The father of five children, Colgan is joined on the board of the Colgan Foundation by his daughter, Eimíle Colgan Gustafson, and his wife, surgeon and conservation expert Dr. Bibi Colgan.
Which is a good segue to one of his greatest works, the creation in 1995 of the Colgan Foundation. This Foundation has been as successful in pursuing its mission, namely to financially support organizations and individuals that promote the values of the Colgan family through excellence, opportunity, and inclusivity in education, athletics, and science. The organization is particularly active in its hometown of Philadelphia but supports causes around the world. Of precise interest are Catholic ministry, the sport of rowing, children in crisis, and marine conservation. In sum, the Colgan Foundation endeavors to fulfill unmet needs for the betterment of communities and for the earth.
It all began at home with a father who also loved his rowing, and parents who encouraged the interest. Charles P and Mary E Colgan were exceptional parents nurturing both discipline and adventure in their three boys. Charles was a ten time American and Canadian national Champion who narrowly missed out on membership of the 1948 American Olympic rowing team and who continued his interest in the sport as a masters rower, coach and international umpire. Sean dedicated his book on Ted Nash (details below), to his father with these words, For my father, Charles P. Colgan, who gave me security, morality, and rowing … .
FISA umpire and proud father Charles with his American representative sons Brian and Sean
His high school in Philadelphia had a rowing program sponsored by Vesper Rowing Club and he started as a 12 year old coxswain. In fact, he steered an Olympic hopeful coxed pair to the 1968 US Olympic trials. He progressed well through the school to being selected in an American Under 19 eight which competed at the 1972 World Junior Championships and in the following year, he stroked the American Under 19 four at the World Juniors.
Following his school years, he took a gap year and went to Melbourne Australia to join the Mercantile Rowing Club, a club recommended by members of the Australian Under 19 rowing team at 1973 World Under 19 Championships. What they forgot to tell him was that it burnt down before he arrived!
Despite this set back, he has remained a member ever since and been the largest donor to the Club’s Foundation.
Upon returning to Philadelphia, Sean continued his rowing career whilst studying at the University of Pennsylvania. His outstanding record is recorded both above and below.
Of the many stories during this period was his 1980 Olympic Eight, which maintained the great Olympic eights tradition of the USA. They won the Grand Challenge at Henley Royal Regatta and defeated the East Germans at Amsterdam. Alas that was to be their last race as the American government enforced a boycott of the Moscow Olympic Games. The East Germans won the eights at the Games.
Celebrating their Grand Challenge Cup win at Henley Royal Regatta in 1980
Whilst severely disappointed, the crew has remained great friends and have rowed and raced together much since, racing at the Head of the Charles for 38 consecutive years. They were a great crew and are superb people.
Given his record, he is one of the few, if any, who have competed in both under 19 and senior, covering both sculling and sweep disciplines, lightweight and heavyweight and also, racing on both sides.
He always has a soft spot for his coaches, and one in particular, Ted Nash. He has taken the time to compile a book as a tribute to Ted aptly titled “The Book of Ted”.
He also has a drive for assisting quality younger people of which the sport of rowing amply provides. He is generous in his time, friendship and support of such people. There are no geographic boundaries to his interest and support. He has a passion to assist.
For a man of clear views, is strategic in thought and action, incorrigible entrepreneur, and a chronic over achiever, whilst he remains a kind, thoughtful and generous person. He always finds time to correspond with his friends, often sending them books he has found of interest. A truly remarkable person.
Sean and Bibi Colgan after Sean received the freedom of the City of London for his works in London
Known rowing record (excluding masters rowing)
1972 – World Under 19 Championships, Milan, Italy
1973 – World Under 19 Championships, Nottingham, England 1974 – Raced with Mercantile Rowing Club, Melbourne Australia
1975 – World Championships, Lightweight Eight - Silver Medal
1976 – World Championships, Lightweight Eight - Bronze Medal
1976 – World Championships, American Team Captain
1977 – University of Pennsylvania Hobson Award
1978 – World Championships Coxed Pair - Seventh
1979 – Pan American Games, Eight - Gold
1980 – Olympic Games, member of the US Olympic Team which was withdrawn by a US government boycott
1980 – Henley Royal Regatta, Grand Challenge Cup – First
1980 – World Cup, Men’s Eight - Silver Medal
1980 – Congressional Gold Medal: Awarded for Olympic qualification and sacrifice following the boycott, officially recorded in the U.S. Congressional Record.
1982 – US National Championship, Single Sculls - First
1983 – Pan American Games Single Sculls – Bronze Medal (and team captain)
1983 – Pan American Games - Team Captain
1984 – World Cup Quadruple Sculls - Bronze Medal 1992 - 2017 – Director American Rowing Foundation 2002 – World Championships, Men’s Coxed Pair, coach - Silver 2011 – Pan American Games, Men’s Eight, coach – Gold (last gold won USA men) 2012 – Olympic Games, El Salvador Rowing team, Technical Director/coach of M1x and W1x 2015 – 2021 Assistant to successful NZL rowing team, specifically Men’s 8 Tokyo Olympics
University of Pennsylvania Hall of Fame (two time National Champion)
USA Rowing Hall of Fame
Life member Mercantile Rowing Club and Leander Boat Club
Co-Patron of Mercantile Rowing Club
Author, The Book of Ted – Olympian, Coach, Mentor Ted A Nash, published 2022
Past President of Rowing Australia Colin Smith has provided the following tribute.
Sean P. Colgan is an accomplished American rower, long-term Mercantile RC member, life member and patron, entrepreneur, and philanthropist whose career spans collegiate, national, and international competition. Renowned for his success in both lightweight and open-weight rowing, Colgan’s influence extends far beyond the water. His legacy is built on competitive excellence, a distinguished record of entrepreneurial achievement, and a philanthropic vision that has made a profound and lasting impact on the global rowing community.
Sean has channeled his drive and strategic thinking into highly successful business ventures. This entrepreneurial success laid the foundation for the Colgan Foundation, which has been a significant supporter of rowing at all levels, as well as other causes beyond sport — notably in promoting scientific research and innovation. The combination of business achievement and philanthropic purpose has expanded Colgan’s influence well beyond the rowing community.
Key rowing philanthropic contributions
• University of Pennsylvania Rowing – Major supporter of facilities, boats, scholarships, and alumni engagement.
• USRowing – Financial and strategic supporter of national teams, athlete development programs, and expanded access to the sport.
• Leander Club (UK) – Contributor to athlete support programs, assisting young rowers in reaching their potential and enabling transatlantic exchange opportunities.
• Mercantile Rowing Club (Australia) – Key donor to the Mercantile Foundation and active sponsor. Competitor in masters rowing and supporter of club development, including Henley Royal Regatta campaigns.
• Rowing New Zealand – Major donor and underwriter of the men’s and women’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Eight campaigns, which achieved a historic Gold Medal for the men and Silver Medal for the women; supporter of athlete pathways and competition access.
• Rowing Australia – Benefactor for national rowing development and international competition preparation.
• El Salvador Rowing Federation – Provider of equipment, funding, and guidance to establish rowing in Central America.
• Ukraine Rowing – Funded and shipped racing shells and equipment to support displaced Ukrainian athletes in training and competition.
• Head of the Yarra / Head of the Charles – Ongoing supporter of athlete participation and high-profile international competition. Sean continues to compete successfully at both leading regattas, for Mercantile RC in the Head of the Yarra, and Upper Yarra RC in the Head of the Charles.
Andrew Guerin
November 2023
Revised in August 2025 incorporating a tribute from Colin Smith
Sources
- Author’s own records including Australian Rowing History website
- Colgan Foundation website extracted 19th November 2023
- Interview with Sean Colgan November 2023
- Colin Smith additions August 2025
Editors note: We are fortunate to have such an important contributor as Colin Smith who is a past Director and President of Rowing Australia (1999–2014) and a skilled lightweight rower. Colin won five Penrith Cups—first representing South Australia, then Victoria—and represented Australia at the World Rowing Championships, earning multiple medals. His work for this site provides a depth of personal knowledge and detail which only a person of his background and experience can offer.