Help Send John To Tokyo

A member of Cork Boat Club for many years, John Kearney is popular with both coaches and crewmates - always there to help drive his teammates and club forward, while being positive and good-natured no matter what. In 2018 after representing his club at the Irish Championships, John went on to represent Ireland in the coxless four at the Coupe de la Jeunesse regatta where they placed 5th overall. John then decided he wanted to take his rowing to the next level.

Photo: The Cork Boat Club men's eight crew after winning at the London Metropolitan Regatta 2019 (John 4th from right)


Over the course of the Rowing Ireland 2018/2019 trials he has come from 10th place at the September trials to 1st place in the February trials, proving that hard work and determination pays off.

John has now been pre-selected to race at the World Junior Rowing Championships in Tokyo this August 7-11th as part of the Junior Men's Coxed Four.

So far this year John's four have won a silver medal (just narrowly beaten by the Germans) at the Junior European Championships in Essen, Germany in May, setting them up well for a chance to take gold on the Tokyo Olympic course this August.

Photo: Irish Junior coxed four after winning at Skibbereen regatta

Unfortunately, competing at a high level in any sport does not come cheap! Even with part of the trip and competition in Tokyo subsidised by Rowing Ireland, the cost born by each athlete is to be 2,300+ euros per person. That cost is on top of paying for his trip to the Junior European Championships, many training camps and rowing trials which were entirely self-funded by the athletes themselves.

We are looking to help John cover as much of the cost of attending the Junior World Championships in Tokyo as possible to reduce the financial burden and hopefully see John's four beat the Germans (who this time won't have the home crowd advantage) and take home the gold for his club and country!