Olympic Rower Robbie Manson Retires From Rowing… But Not From OF!
Kiwi rower Robbie Manson might be stepping away from competitive rowing, but fans of the three-time Olympian certainly have not seen the last of him. Far from it, actually. Now that he is finished with the gruelling demands of elite sport, we might be seeing a lot more of the handsome New Zealander exploring his other talents.
Retiring At His Peak
The 35-year-old New Zealand athlete made his retirement official on Monday after a perfect final act. Manson won the men’s doubles at the New Zealand Rowing Championships. Talk about going out on top.
Manson shared his thoughts in an Instagram post. He spoke about his return to the sport after taking time off for mental health.
“In mid-2022, after nearly two years away from rowing, a small itch crept in – what if I gave it another shot? From Masters to club rowing, I found my way back,” he wrote. “I didn’t know how far I’d get or even how far I wanted to. There were plenty of moments where things could’ve gone either way. But I’m proud of what I managed to achieve.”
His comeback story is quite remarkable. After not competing for two years, Manson qualified for his fourth Olympics in Paris. His original doubles partner, Ben Mason, could not compete in the Games. Manson teamed up with Jordan Perry instead. The new duo clicked right away and finished sixth in the final.
“Jordan, you’ve been an incredible teammate!” Manson posted after their Olympic run.
Why Hang Up the Oar Now?
Manson considered pushing toward the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. After careful thought, he opted to pursue other interests and opportunities.
“Competing at this level demands so much – time, energy, stress, and sacrifice – and eventually, the cost starts to outweigh the reward,” he explained. “Lately, the pull to explore new opportunities has been stronger than the pull to keep racing.”
The Financial Reality of Olympic Athletes
The financial side of being an Olympic athlete isn’t all gold medals and sponsorships. Manson has spoken openly about this challenge.
“It’s hard to have a 12-year career and then afterwards having nothing to support myself,” he previously told Queerty.
His solution? Creating content on OnlyFans. This choice has proven smart from a business perspective. Manson has built a strong following and transformed his financial situation.
“I get more than double what I would be on otherwise as an athlete – read into that what you will, but I am making more from [OnlyFans] than I am from rowing at this stage,” he told Reuters last summer.
Sun, Sand, and a Digital Future
Since starting his digital career, Manson has visited some beautiful spots. His travels include Rogers Beach in Los Angeles and pool parties in Sydney, Australia. Fans have enjoyed these scenic updates on his various platforms.
We think his final rowing partner Oscar Ruston might want to consider joining Manson on his next global adventure. Strictly as a photographer, of course.
The Next Race
Looking ahead, Robbie plans to dedicate more energy to his coaching business and continue exploring what comes next. Whether that is in fitness, business, or even developing what he playfully calls his “modeling career”, he is keeping his options open.
“With that itch well and truly scratched, it’s time to shift my focus to growing my online coaching business and continuing to explore new things,” he shared on Instagram. “Let’s see where this next chapter leads and if the itch comes back before I’m really too old.”
At DNA, we reckon Robbie Manson has plenty more to offer, both on and off camera. We will definitely be keeping an eye on his next moves across all platforms. It seems this champion is just getting started on a whole new race.
