Going for gold

Team members (from bottom) David Dennis, Thomas Laurich, Robert Jahrling and Dave McGowan train for the Men’s Four event of the 2004 Olympics Games at the Schinias Rowing & Canoeing Center in Athens. Photo by David Guttenfelder, provided by AAP

David Dennis

By Pte John Wellfare

OLYMPIC rower and soldier with The Pilbarra Regt Ptlmn David Dennis had been preparing to enter the finals of the Coxless Four competition in Athens as Army went to print.

With teammates Dave Mcgowan, Rob Jahrling and Tom Laurich, Ptlmn Dennis secured second place in the team’s semi-final heat on Wednesday, August 18 and would be competing in the finals at 10.30am on Saturday, August 21.

Coming in just one second behind Canada, the team’s semi-final time of 5:51.81 over the 2000 metre event was 30 seconds faster than the team’s qualifying time of 6:21.98.

Ptlmn Dennis studies at the University of Western Australia and is closely involved with the Western Australian Institute of Sport.

He enlisted into the Army Reserve in September 1999, and completed his RFSU Patrolman course for The Pilbarra Regt in November 2001.

David Dennis
Men’s Coxless Four

• Date of Birth: May 30, 1980 (24 years old)
• Lives: Perth, WA
• Height: 192cm
• Weight: 85kg
• Institute: Western Australian Institute of Sport
• Club: University of Western Australia Boat Club
• Coach: Antonio Maurogiovanni
• Represents: WA
• Occupation: Student, Athlete, Army Reservist
• Olympic Games Debut
• Recent Performances:
  • 2004 World Cup (Lucerne) 4th – Men’s four
  • 2003 World Championships (Milan) 5th – Men’s eight
  • 2003 World Cup (Lucerne) 3rd – Men’s eight
  • 2002 World Cup (Munich) 2nd – Men’s eight
  • 2002 World Championships (Seville) 7th – Men’s eight
  • 2002 Commonwealth Regatta (Nottingham) 1st – Men’s eight
  • 2002 Commonwealth Regatta (Nottingham) 1st – Men’s coxless four
• Interesting Facts:
  • David started rowing at school at Scotch College in Perth in 1993.
  • His brother Neil Dennis is also an elite rower.

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