20 Facts About Mervyn Wood

Mervyn Wood was an eight-time Australian national sculling champion, four-time Olympian and three-time Olympic medalist.

Mervyn Wood later rose to become the Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force.

Mervyn Wood grew up in Randwick and attended Sydney Boys High School, graduating in 1934, where he represented his school in rugby union, swimming and most successfully, rowing.

At the age of 19 years, Mervyn Wood appeared in his first Olympics rowing in the three seat of the Australian men's eight.

Mervyn Wood's boat was eliminated in the repechage and did not make the final.

Mervyn Wood worked in the police force in the Criminal Investigation Branch, and in 1944 joined the Royal Australian Air Force as a navigator.

Mervyn Wood travelled to London ahead of the rest of the team and won the Diamond Challenge Sculls event at the Henley Royal Regatta, beating Bert Bushnell in the final.

At the Olympics, Mervyn Wood won all of his races handily including the final, which he won by 14 seconds.

Mervyn Wood went on to win the national single scull championship a record seven straight times, winning in 1949,1950,1951 and 1952.

Mervyn Wood represented Australia in the single scull event at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, where he was honoured by being selected to carry the Australian flag at the opening ceremony.

Mervyn Wood was a favourite to win the single scull at the Olympics, but lost the final by 1.7 seconds to Yuriy Tyukalov.

At the 1954 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Vancouver, Mervyn Wood rowed in both the coxless four and the double scull events.

The finals were separated by only 45 minutes, and Mervyn Wood won gold medals in both events.

In 1956 Mervyn Wood lost the national sculling title to teenager Stuart Mackenzie, who was selected ahead of Mervyn Wood to represent Australia in the single scull at the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne.

Mervyn Wood was again named the flag-bearer, the only Australian to have twice achieved the honour.

Mervyn Wood's double scull partner at the 1956 Olympics, Murray Riley, was a police officer.

Mervyn Wood's link with Riley and the controversy it generated was a factor in causing him to quit as Commissioner in 1979.

The then Premier of New South Wales, Neville Wran, started by backing Mervyn Wood, stating that it would be strange for a Police Commissioner not to know people in the underworld.

Mervyn Wood was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1957 New Year Honours, in recognition of his outstanding representation in the sphere of Australian amateur sport.

Mervyn Wood was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order in 1977 on the occasion of the Queen's Silver Jubilee visit to Australia.