Born: 1993 (Raetihi, New Zealand)
Biography:
Kerri Leigh Williams MNZM (née Gowler; born 18 December 1993) is a New Zealand rower. She is a national champion, an Olympic champion and double medallist, a three-time world champion, and a current (2019) world champion in both the coxless pair and the women’s eight.
Williams was born in Raetihi in 1993. She is of Māori descent, affiliating with Rangitāne iwi. She received her education at Nga Tawa Diocesan School in Marton. In 2008, the school first started to offer a rowing program, and a year later, Williams took up the sport. Despite also competing as an equestrian, Williams soon dedicated herself to rowing and had to choose between the two sports. Her trainer recognized her talent and told her three weeks into her rowing journey that she would one day represent New Zealand.
Inspired by her success, Williams’ younger sister, Jackie Gowler, joined rowing in 2010, and both sisters went on to make it into the New Zealand national rowing team. Their elder sister, Jaimee Gowler, remained involved in horse riding.
After leaving school, Williams became a member of the Aramoho Wanganui Rowing Club. Her international career in rowing began in 2013 with the women’s eight. After participating in two World Rowing Cups, she won the B-final at the 2013 World Rowing Championships in South Korea.
During the 2014 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, Williams achieved gold in the coxless four alongside Kayla Pratt, Kelsey Bevan, and Grace Prendergast. She represented New Zealand as part of the women’s eight at the 2016 Rio Olympics, finishing in fourth place. Williams holds the distinction of being New Zealand Olympian number 1278.
At the 2017 World Rowing Championships, she became a world champion in the women’s pair, partnering with Prendergast. Williams and Prendergast successfully defended their title at the 2019 World Rowing Championships.
Competing at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics at the Sea Forest Waterway, Williams and Prendergast continued their winning streak. They won their heat, set a new world record in the semi-final (which was broken ten minutes later by Greece in the first semi-final), and ultimately claimed the gold medal in the A final for the coxless pair event.
In addition to her success in the coxless pair, Williams also competed in the women’s eight at the Tokyo Olympics. Just three hours after their pair’s heat, Williams and her teammates won their heat in the eight. In the final, the New Zealand eight captured the silver medal, finishing behind Canada.
In recognition of her contributions to rowing, Kerri Williams was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the 2022 Queen’s Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours.
Awards:
– Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (2022)