New Zealand rowing is mourning the death of Olympic great Simon Dickie at the age of 66.
Former coxswain Dickie, who died suddenly in Taupo yesterday, is one of just nine Kiwis to have won more than two Olympic medals. The only other rower is contemporary great Mahe Drysdale.
Dickie's first medal came in 1968 in Mexico City at the age of 17 when the coxed four won New Zealand's first ever rowing gold.
He repeated the dose four years later at Munich when part of the famed men's eight.
Dickie emerged from retirement to clinch a bronze medal with the eight at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
Small in stature but large in voice and personality, Dickie was widely respected in the rowing fraternity.
His ability to inject rowers with self-belief was regarded as a key element of the big boat success New Zealand enjoyed during his competitive years.
After his rowing career, Dickie became involved in business ventures in Taupo.
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