# Kerri Williams > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kerri_Williams > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kerri_Williams.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerri_Williams > Source revision: 1356864924 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|New Zealand rower (born 1993)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox sportsperson | name = Kerri Williams | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|size=100%}} | image = Kerri Williams MNZM (cropped).jpg | caption = Williams in 2022 | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|12|18|df=y}} | birth_place = [Raetihi](/source/Raetihi), New Zealand | birth_name = Kerri Leigh Gowler | height = 1.81 m | weight = 76 kg{{Cite sports-reference |title = Kerri Gowler |url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/go/kerri-gowler-1.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418055131/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/go/kerri-gowler-1.html |url-status = dead |archive-date = 18 April 2020 |access-date = 8 June 2018 }} | country = New Zealand | sport = [Rowing](/source/Rowing_(sport)) | event = Coxless pair, Coxless four, Eight | club = Aramaho Wanganui | education = [Nga Tawa Diocesan School](/source/Nga_Tawa_Diocesan_School){{cite web |title= Kerri Gowler |url= http://www.schoolrowing.org.nz/nzssra.php?page=392&rs=mad11&pid=16401 |publisher=New Zealand Secondary School Rowing Association |access-date= 19 March 2016}} | headercolor = lightsteelblue | relatives = [Jackie Gowler](/source/Jackie_Gowler) (sister) | show-medals = yes | medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Women's [rowing](/source/Rowing_(sport))}} {{MedalCountry|{{NZL}}}} {{MedalCompetition|[Olympic Games](/source/Rowing_at_the_Summer_Olympics)}} {{MedalGold|[2020 Tokyo](/source/Rowing_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics)|[Coxless pair](/source/Rowing_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_coxless_pair)}} {{MedalSilver|2020 Tokyo|[Eight](/source/Rowing_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_eight)}} {{MedalBronze|[2024 Paris](/source/Rowing_at_the_2024_Summer_Olympics)|[Coxless four](/source/Rowing_at_the_2024_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_coxless_four)}} {{MedalComp|[World Championships](/source/World_Rowing_Championships)}} {{MedalGold|[2014 Amsterdam](/source/2014_World_Rowing_Championships)|Coxless four}} {{MedalGold|[2017 Sarasota](/source/2017_World_Rowing_Championships)|[Coxless pair](/source/2017_World_Rowing_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_coxless_pair)}} {{MedalGold|[2019 Ottensheim](/source/2019_World_Rowing_Championships)|[Coxless pair](/source/2019_World_Rowing_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_coxless_pair)}} {{MedalGold|2019 Ottensheim|[Eight](/source/2019_World_Rowing_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_eight)}} {{MedalGold|[2022 Račice](/source/2022_World_Rowing_Championships)|[Coxless pair](/source/2022_World_Rowing_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_coxless_pair)}} {{MedalSilver|[2018 Plovdiv](/source/2018_World_Rowing_Championships)|[Coxless pair](/source/2018_World_Rowing_Championships_%E2%80%93_Women's_coxless_pair)}} {{MedalSilver|[2015 Aiguebelette](/source/2015_World_Rowing_Championships)|Coxless pair}} {{MedalSilver|2015 Aiguebelette|Eight}} }} '''Kerri Leigh Williams''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|MNZM|size=85%}} (née '''Gowler'''; born 18 December 1993) is a former New Zealand [rower](/source/Rowing_(sport)).{{cite web |title=2022 World Cup Team |url=https://rowingnz.kiwi/Story?Action=View&Story_id=934 |publisher=[Rowing New Zealand](/source/Rowing_New_Zealand) |access-date=23 May 2022 |date=6 May 2022}} She is a national champion, an Olympic champion and double medallist, a five-time world champion and a current (2019) world champion in both the coxless pair and the women's eight. Williams was born in [Raetihi](/source/Raetihi) in 1993.{{cite web |title=Kerri Gowler |url=http://www.olympic.org.nz/athletes/kerri-gowler/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160623150342/http://www.olympic.org.nz/athletes/kerri-gowler/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2016 |publisher=[New Zealand Olympic Committee](/source/New_Zealand_Olympic_Committee) |access-date=8 June 2018}} She is of [Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_people) descent, affiliating with [Rangitāne](/source/Rangit%C4%81ne) iwi.{{Cite web|last=Paewai|first=Kara|date=July 2021|title=Rangitāne sisters Kerri & Jackie Gowler part of NZ's magnificent eight rowers|url=https://www.tvnz.co.nz/shows/te-karere/home/rangitane-sisters-kerri-and-jackie-gowler-part-of-nzs-magnificent-eight|access-date=2021-08-04|website=www.tvnz.co.nz}} She received her education at [Nga Tawa Diocesan School](/source/Nga_Tawa_Diocesan_School) in [Marton](/source/Marton%2C_New_Zealand). The school first started to offer a rowing programme in 2008 and a year later, Williams took this up. At the time, she was also competing as an equestrian but soon started focussing on rowing so much that she had to choose one of the sports. Her trainer told her three weeks after she had started rowing that she would one day represent New Zealand. [Jackie Gowler](/source/Jackie_Gowler), her younger sister by three years, took up rowing in 2010 inspired by her success; they have both made it into the New Zealand national rowing team. Their elder sister, Jaimee Gowler, remains active with horse riding.{{cite news |last1=Campbell |first1=Maggie |title=Rowing: Sisters show they have pulling power |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/wanganui-chronicle/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503424&objectid=11254551 |access-date=8 June 2018 |work=[Wanganui Chronicle](/source/Wanganui_Chronicle) |date=14 May 2014}}{{cite web |title= Jackie Gowler |url= http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/45391/results/gowler-jackie |publisher= [International Rowing Federation](/source/International_Rowing_Federation) |access-date= 8 June 2018 |archive-date= 12 June 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142447/http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/45391/results/gowler-jackie |url-status= dead }} After school, Williams became a member of the Aramoho Wanganui Rowing Club. Williams' international career started in 2013 with the women's [eight](/source/Eight_(rowing)). After participation in two [World Rowing Cup](/source/World_Rowing_Cup)s she won the B-final at the [2013 World Rowing Championships](/source/2013_World_Rowing_Championships) in [Chungju](/source/Chungju), South Korea.{{cite web |title= Kerri Gowler |url= http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/43787/results/ |publisher= [International Rowing Federation](/source/International_Rowing_Federation) |access-date= 8 June 2018 |archive-date= 12 June 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143720/http://www.worldrowing.com/athletes/athlete/43787/results/ |url-status= dead }} Williams won the gold medal in the coxless four at the [2014 World Rowing Championships](/source/2014_World_Rowing_Championships) in [Amsterdam](/source/Amsterdam) alongside [Kayla Pratt](/source/Kayla_Pratt), [Kelsey Bevan](/source/Kelsey_Bevan), and [Grace Prendergast](/source/Grace_Prendergast).{{cite web |url=http://www.worldrowing.com/assets/pdfs/WCH_2014/ROW041101_C73.pdf |title=W4- Results |access-date=7 September 2014}} With the [women's eight](/source/Rowing_at_the_2016_Summer_Olympics_%E2%80%93_Women's_eight), she came fourth at the [2016 Rio Olympics](/source/2016_Summer_Olympics).{{cite news |last1=Alderson |first1=Andrew |title=Rio Olympics 2016: Gold for Mahe Drysdale |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/olympics/news/article.cfm?c_id=502&objectid=11693366 |access-date=14 August 2016 |work=[The New Zealand Herald](/source/The_New_Zealand_Herald) |date=14 August 2016}} She is New Zealand Olympian number 1278. At the [2017 World Rowing Championships](/source/2017_World_Rowing_Championships), she became world champion in the women's [pair](/source/Coxless_pair) partnered with Prendergast.{{cite web |title= (W2-) Women's Pair – Final |url= http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2017-world-rowing-championships/womens-pair/ |publisher=[International Rowing Federation](/source/International_Rowing_Federation) |access-date=1 October 2017}} Williams and Prendergast regained that title at the [2019 World Rowing Championships](/source/2019_World_Rowing_Championships). Competing at the [2020 Tokyo Olympics](/source/2020_Tokyo_Olympics) at the [Sea Forest Waterway](/source/Sea_Forest_Waterway), Prendergast and Williams won their heat, the semi-final in a new [world best time](/source/List_of_world_best_times_in_rowing) (beaten ten minutes earlier by Greece in the first semi-final), and the A final, for Olympic gold.{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Ian |title=NZ's rowers line up medal charge as pair, eight make Tokyo Olympic finals |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/300368199/nzs-rowers-line-up-medal-charge-as-pair-eight-make-tokyo-olympic-finals |access-date=29 July 2021 |work=[Stuff](/source/Stuff_(website)) |date=28 July 2021}}{{cite news |title=Prendergast and Gowler win first gold for New Zealand at Tokyo Olympics |url= https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/jul/29/prendergast-and-gowler-win-first-gold-for-new-zealand-at-tokyo-olympics |access-date=29 July 2021 |work=[The Guardian](/source/The_Guardian) |date=29 July 2021}} They also won the heat in the eight, just three hours after their pair's heat.{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Ian |title=New Zealand pair win both races to be on track for rowing golds at Tokyo Olympics |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/300365452/new-zealand-pair-win-both-races-to-be-on-track-for-rowing-golds-at-tokyo-olympics |access-date=29 July 2021 |work=[Stuff](/source/Stuff_(website)) |date=24 July 2021}} In the final, the New Zealand eight won silver behind Canada.{{cite news |last1=Anderson |first1=Ian |title=New Zealand men's rowing eight win gold, women claim silver at Tokyo Olympics |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/olympics/300369994/new-zealand-mens-rowing-eight-win-gold-women-claim-silver-at-tokyo-olympics |access-date=30 July 2021 |work=[Stuff](/source/Stuff_(website)) |date=30 July 2021}} In the [2022 Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours](/source/2022_Birthday_Honours_(New_Zealand)), Williams was appointed a [Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit](/source/Member_of_the_New_Zealand_Order_of_Merit), for services to rowing.{{cite news |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-queens-birthday-and-platinum-jubilee-honours-list-2022/W53HWSV4TI7DGRF66KXQCTHB34/ |title=The Queen's Birthday and Platinum Jubilee Honours List 2022 |date=6 June 2022 |work=[The New Zealand Herald](/source/The_New_Zealand_Herald) |access-date=6 June 2022}} ==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== * {{sports links}} {{2016 New Zealand Olympic team}} {{2020 New Zealand Olympic team}} {{2024 New Zealand Olympic team}} {{Olympic champions – Women's coxless pair}} {{World champions – Women's coxless pair}} {{World champions – Women's coxless four}} {{World champions – Women's eight}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Williams, Kerri}} Category:1993 births Category:Living people Category:Rangitāne people Category:New Zealand Māori sportspeople Category:New Zealand female rowers Category:People from Raetihi Category:Sportspeople from Manawatū-Whanganui Category:World Rowing Championships medalists for New Zealand Category:Rowers at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic rowers for New Zealand Category:People educated at Nga Tawa Diocesan School Category:Rowers at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Medalists at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic medalists in rowing Category:Olympic gold medalists for New Zealand Category:Olympic silver medalists for New Zealand Category:Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit Category:21st-century New Zealand sportswomen Category:Rowers at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic bronze medalists for New Zealand Category:Medalists at the 2024 Summer Olympics --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kerri Williams](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerri_Williams) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kerri_Williams?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.