Michael Toon

Toowong Rowing Club (QLD)

Michael has had a very successful coxing career becoming Australia's preeminent coxswain of his time. Given the paucity of opportunities for coxswains, the depth of his success shows the quality of his work.

Michael comes from a family steeped in rowing with his father being a prominent Queensland school and club coach, and also a sports administrator. His brother Matthew is also a rower and coach.

It all began for Michael at his school, St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane in 1992. He coxed the school Second VIII to win the Head of the River in 1995 and the First VIII to win the O'Connor Cup for the Head of the River in 1996. The school First VIII were 1996 National Junior Eight Champions and finished 3rd in the Schoolboy 8+ at the National Championships in Penrith.

That same year, 1996, Michael coxed the Queensland Junior 8 to win the Junior Trans-Tasman series and was later selected for the 1996 Australian U23 Coxed Four to compete at the Nation's Cup in Hazewinkel, Belgium, finishing 6th.

Michael joined Toowong Rowing Club after school and coxed the Queensland Youth Eight in 1997 and then the Queensland King's Cup Eight in 1998 beginning his first of twelve consecutive King's Cup appearances, a record number shared with oarsman Bo Hanson.

In 1997 he won his second national championship in the Junior Coxed Four at Lake Barrington, Tasmania.

He coxed the Australian Under 23 Eight at the Nation's Cup (now U23 World Championships) on three occasions over four years, in 1997 (4th), 1998 (Gold) and 2000 (Silver). The 1998 winning crew placed 4th in the A final of the Lucerne World Cup regatta that year as well as being the first Australian Eight to win the U23 World title.

In 2001 Michael won the U23 Eight National title at Lake Wivenhoe in Queensland before becoming the first Queensland cox to represent Australia at the World Championships when he was selected in the Men's Eight. The crew finished seventh in Lucerne, Switzerland. He later won the club eight at the Head of the Charles in Boston for Drummoyne Rowing Club in 2001 and silver in the Championship Coxed Four at the Head of the Charles for UTS Rowing Club.

In 2002 Michael moved to Sydney to cox the Australian Coxed Pair training out of Mosman Rowing Club. The crew won a bronze medal at the World Championships in Seville and doubled up with the men's reserves in the Coxed Four, missing the A final.

Michael returned to the Head of the Charles in 2002 with UTS again winning silver in the Championship 4+ with UTS Haberfield Rowing Club. He remained in Sydney in 2003 joining the UTS rowing club and won his second of four National Championships in the Coxed Four (2002, 2003, 2004, 2007).

In 2004 Michael coxed the Australian Olympic Eight at the Athens Olympics winning the bronze medal.

Moving onto the start at the Olympic Games in 2004
Photo from the Hebfotos collection

2004 Olympic Games podium
Photo from the Hebfotos collection

Michael continued coxing the Queensland King's Cup crew until 2009 and coxed again for Queensland at Masters level from 2013-2019 winning six of seven Interstate Men's Masters Eight races in this time.

Michael continuing his winning ways as a masters rower in 2023 at the Head of the Yarra
From the Michael Toon collection - Photographer Gary Lynagh

Michael is an honorary life member of Toowong Rowing Club.

Not only was his rowing career outstanding, his professional career as an anesthetist has followed the same path. Michael successfully managed both his medical studies and his specialist training throughout his coxing career. He is a fine example to others who follow.

Some rowing highlights

1996 - Queensland GPS Head of the River, St Joseph's College, Gregory Terrace - First

1996 - National Championship Junior Men's Eight, (St Joseph's College Gregory Terrace) - First

1996 - Nations Cup (World Under 23 Championships), Australian U23 Men's coxed four - Sixth

1997 - National Championships Junior Men's Coxed Four - First

1997 - Nations Cup (World Under 23 Championships), Australian U23 Men's Eight - Fourth

1998 - Nations Cup (World Under 23 Championships), Australian U23 Men's Eight -Gold

2000 - Nations Cup (World Under 23 Championships), Australian U23 Men's Eight - Silver

2001 - National Championship Men's Under 23 Eight - First

2001 - World Championships, Australian Men's Eight - Seventh

2001 - Head of the Charles (Boston USA) Men's Club Eight - Gold

2002 - National Championship Men's Coxed Four -First

2002 - World Championships, Australian Men's Coxed Four - Seventh

2002 - World Championships, Australian Men's Coxed Pair - Bronze

2003 - National Championship Men's Coxed Four - First

2004 - National Championships Men's Coxed Four - First

2004 - Olympic Games, Australian Men's Eight - Bronze

2007 - National Championship Men's Coxed Four - First

Andrew Guerin
May 2025