Olympic rowing champion Hamish Bond joins Team New Zealand for America's Cup campaign

Three-time Olympic rowing champion Hamish Bond of New Zealand will be getting on board a new kind of vessel in 2024.

The 36-year-old announced Thursday (26 January) that he is joining the Kiwi squad, as the team looks to defend their title at the America's Cup in Barcelona next year. New Zealand won the 2021 edition in Auckland.

“I’m really excited to join,” said Bond, according to the New Zealand Herald. “It’s something that I was aware of on the radar when I officially retired from rowing but to have the stars align and be asked to trial for the team and be selected is something that I’m really excited about."

Bond says he stayed in shape after his retirement following the 2020 Tokyo Games, held in the summer of 2021, in order to participate in team trials at the end of 2022. In addition to his rowing prowess, Bond has competed in road cycling, winning a bronze medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia's Gold Coast.

Now, he's looking forward to his next adventure.

“I’ve got memories of the America’s Cup going all the way back to Sir Peter Blake and the red socks. I remember being on the side of the road during my cycling stint in the UK in a van, watching Pete and the team in Bermuda win the Cup back, so to think that’s going to be part of my story now is really exciting.”

• Hamish Bond retires from rowing leaving a sparkling Olympic legacy