Alan Geoffrey Grover (24 September 1944 – 12 May 2019) was an Australian representative rowing

coxswain The coxswain ( , or ) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from ''cock'', referring to the cockboat, a type of ship's boa ...

. He was a six-time national champion and triple Olympian who steered Australian crews at the

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarc ...

1968 The year was highlighted by protests and other unrests that occurred worldwide. Events January–February * January 5 – " Prague Spring": Alexander Dubček is chosen as leader of the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia. * Janu ...

and

1972 Summer Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ...

. Grover coxed at the elite level in Australia over an eighteen-year period from 1962 to 1980.

Club and state rowing

He was born in Sydney and attended Sydney Boys High. His senior rowing was from the

Sydney Rowing Club Sydney Rowing Club is the oldest rowing club in New South Wales, Australia formed in 1870. It has occupied its current site on Port Jackson's Parramatta River at Abbotsford Point since 1874. The club has a focus on its high performance and elite ...

. He first made state selection for New South Wales in 1962 in the men's lightweight four which contested the Penrith Cup at the Interstate Regatta. In 1965 and 1967 he was again in the stern of New South Wales Penrith Cup fours and he steered those crews to victory. In 1968 he coxed the New South Wales state eight to victory in the King's Cup at the Interstate Regatta. He cemented his place in the stern of the New South Wales men's eight and steered those crews in the King's Cups of 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972. The 1972 crew was again victorious. After a long break he made a return to senior rowing in 1980 and that year again steered the New South Wales King's Cup eight. He coxed

crews in national title attempts at the

Australian Rowing Championships Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Aus ...

on various occasions - coxed fours in 1964 and 1980 (both champions); coxed pairs in 1966 (fourth place) and 1980 (champions).

International representative rowing

In 1964 Grover was selected as

of an Australian four which finished tenth in the coxed four event at the Tokyo Olympics. Four years later he steered the Australian men's eight to a silver medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics. At the

1972 Munich Olympics The 1972 Summer Olympics (), officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad () and commonly known as Munich 1972 (german: München 1972), was an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ...

he was again in the stern of the Australian crew which finished in eighth place in the men's eight event.

Professional career

In business life Grover was a senior marketing employee at

Speedo Speedo International Limited is a distributor of swimwear and swim-related accessories based in Nottingham, England, known for its swim briefs. The company has roots in Australia but is no longer based there. Founded in Sydney in 1914 by A ...

from 1987 to 2012. He then joined the Australian Olympic Committee, again employed as a marketing professional.

References

External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Grover, Alan 1944 births 2019 deaths Australian male rowers Coxswains (rowing) Olympic rowers for Australia Rowers at the 1964 Summer Olympics Rowers at the 1968 Summer Olympics Rowers at the 1972 Summer Olympics Olympic silver medalists for Australia Olympic medalists in rowing Medalists at the 1968 Summer Olympics 20th-century Australian people Rowers from Sydney Sportsmen from New South Wales