The London Olympics just got personal for Marlburians.

The naming of five Marlborough rowers in the New Zealand team on the road to London has given rowing, and sport, in our little province a massive boost. This is almost certainly our greatest representation at an Olympics.

Definitive records are hard to find but the collective wisdom of those in the know suggests Marlborough has never been represented by so many Olympians at any one time.

In fact, our Olympians have been few and far between.

Rowers have stood out. Our previous best effort came at the 1932 Los Angeles Games where John Hoani (Jack) MacDonald, Lawrence "Jumbo" Jackson (from the Picton club) and Charlie Saunders wore the black singlet.

MacDonald and Jackson rowed in the eight, MacDonald being the New Zealand team's flagbearer at the opening ceremony, while Saunders finished fourth in the coxed four final.

In Montreal in 1976, Ivan Sutherland claimed the province's first, and so far only, Olympic medal when the New Zealand eight won bronze.

Cantabrian George Keys, who rowed for Wairau for several years, attended the Games of 1984 and '88, while Rob Hellstrom, who also wore Wairau colours to national success, competed at the 2000 Olympics.

Our most recent Olympian was cyclist Robin Reid, who competed in the road race in Athens in 2004.

Fellow cyclist Graeme Miller made it to three Olympics 1984, '88 and '92 his best result being eighth in the 1988 road race.

Read more here:
Rowers provide personal stake in Olympic bid