- Geoff Walker
Geoff Walker (
21 July 1952 –18 October 1997 ) was a New Zealand triple sportsman who as a Kayaker was one of only four New Zealand sportsmen at the boycotted1980 Summer Olympics atMoscow .He first represented New Zealand in swimming, but narrowly missed selection for the 1970 Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh. Then he became one of New Zealand’s top surf lifesavers, and the New Zealand surf ski champion six times between 1974 and 1988.
He branched into kayaking, was selected for the team for the 1980 Moscow Olympics, and was a finalist in the K2 1000m.
He was in the New Zealand surf lifesaving team in 1980, 1982 and 1988. He won the New Zealand ironman championship four times, and in 1988 won three golds at the national championships in surf ski, surf ski rescue and double surf ski.
He was born in Christchurch, and died in Christchurch aged 45 after a long illness. He was survived by his wife Melanie, two sons and two daughters.
Reference
"Triple New Zealand representative dies" in "The Press" of 20 October 1997 page 17.
* [http://www.olympic.org.nz/Athletes/AthleteProfile.aspx?Print=&ContactID=1229&id=3774 Page at NZOC website]
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