26 Facts About Michael Brake

Michael Brake was born on 22 October 1994 and is a New Zealand rower.

Michael Brake is a dual Olympian and won Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020.

Michael Brake, who is from Auckland's North Shore, graduated with a civil engineering degree from Auckland University.

Michael Brake received his education at Westlake Boys High School on the city's North Shore in the suburb of Forrest Hill.

Michael Brake took up rowing in 2008 at his school aged 13.

Michael Brake competed in two boat classes in finals and won both races: one with the club eight and the other with the U19 coxed four.

Michael Brake was selected for the New Zealand junior rowing team based on those results and he first rowed internationally at the 2012 World Rowing Junior Championships, which were held in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, in conjunction with the 2012 World Rowing Championships.

At the February 2013 New Zealand rowing championships, Michael Brake competed in three senior boat classes, and came second with the eight and won gold with both the coxless pair and the coxless four.

At the February 2015 New Zealand rowing championships, Michael Brake competed in three boat classes and won his first national title in the premier men category.

Michael Brake picked up his first premier title with the coxed four, with different team members to those he won silver with at the world championships the previous year.

Michael Brake was called into the elite team for the year and went to the 2015 World Rowing Cups II and III with the eight, in Varese and at the Swiss Rotsee, respectively.

At the February 2016 New Zealand rowing championships, Michael Brake competed in three boat classes.

At the February 2018 New Zealand rowing championships, Michael Brake competed in three premier boat classes.

Michael Brake won gold with the coxless four, bronze with the eight, and came fourth with Cameron Webster in the coxless pair.

For international rowing, Michael Brake was teamed up with Tom Murray in the coxless pair.

At the February 2019 New Zealand rowing championships, Michael Brake competed in three premier boat classes.

Michael Brake won gold with the coxless four and the eight, and bronze in double scull with Stephen Jones.

At the February 2020 New Zealand rowing championships, Michael Brake competed in two boat classes.

Michael Brake came second with the coxless four and third alongside Webster in the coxless pair.

At the February 2021 New Zealand rowing championships, Michael Brake competed in four boat classes.

Michael Brake became national champion with the coxless four and the eight.

Michael Brake won silver alongside Dan Williamson in the coxless pair.

In March 2021, Rowing New Zealand announced the elite team for the Olympic year and Michael Brake was placed in the eight that had yet to qualify for the Games.

When New Zealand's Olympic team was announced in June 2021, Michael Brake was confirmed to start with the eight.

Michael Brake won gold in the men's eights event at the 2020 Olympic Games.

On 4 January 2025 at Ohauiti in the Bay of Plenty, Brake married his long term partner, rugby player Michaela Blyde.