Mr Thomas Jack King OAM OM 1990
Last updated: 2008
An outstanding yachtsman, Tom King won a Gold Medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and is a prominent member of Australia's Olympic Committee. King graduated from The University of Melbourne with First Class Honours in Mechanical Engineering, becoming a qualified Engineer.
At just 16 years of age he had won the Open Age Australian Yachting Championships and two years later won his first World Championship in the Mirror Class. In the elite Olympic 470 class he competed at the 1995 World Championships, the 1996 Olympic Games and the 1999 World Championships. He and fellow crewman Mark Turnbull were highly successful in 2000.
At the Sydney Olympics they won the Gold Medal, the first Australian sailors to do so in 28 years. They also won the World Championships and the Kiel Regatta in Germany, which is the largest sailing regatta in the world. In recognition of these achievements King received the Victorian Institute of Sport Award of Excellence, the Australian Male Yachtsmen of the Year and Vicsports Team of the Year awards. He also received the Medal of the Order of Australia.
Melbourne Grammar School marked its sesquicentenary in 2008. As part of the celebrations, a Talents Committed Exhibition was staged. This exhibition recognised 150 Old Melburnians who have made a difference to the City of Melbourne, the State of Victoria and the wider community in Australia and overseas.
The above profile was included in the Talents Committed Exhibition in 2008.