Profile on top Vic sportsman

John Gibbons' sporting career has been highlighted with selection for both the Tokyo and the Mexico Olympic Games.

John, who was educated at Wangenui Collegiate School, is now completing a Commerce degree. He plans to sit the first paper of his Accounting III exam in Mexico.

In 1964 John was in the Senior A rugby and rowing eight for Tournament. He also rowed for Star during the season and while still a maiden oar was selected for the Tokyo Olympics in the rowing eight.

In 1965 he concentrated on rugby and was a lock for the Senior A and Wellington B teams. Ho also made the Victoria rowing team for Tournament and was selected for the NZU team and received an NZU Blue.

In 1966 John was selected In the Wellington A squad but went to Auckland to train with the New Zealand rowing team for the World Championships. He went to Yugoslavia with the eight which performed well, finishing sixth.

Again he was awarded blues in rowing and rugby and won the Sportsman of the Year trophy.

In 1967 he concentrated on studies and was not available for the Canadian rowing tour, but still rowed for Victoria, which won the eights. He was also selected for the NZU team.

In 1968 he received three thirds in the New Zealand rowing championships. He was also a Victoria Blue in rowing, won the single sculls at Tournament and was a member of the winning eight.

John has always epitomized the real sportsman, the secretary of the Blues Committee, Roger Lawrence, said. He is always ready to help the less experienced sportsmen and participate in club activities whenever he has the time.

The Blues Panel reached this choice unhesitatingly, the only reservation being that with a sportsman with the calibre of John there was a distinct possibility that the trophy would stay in the Gibbons' household for as many years as John was at Victoria, Roger Lawrence said.