every mark, beating Croatia by 2 seconds, with South Africa claiming the bronze. Tomkins was selected in the men's eight for the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich, placing a disappointing 4th. He competed in his sixth Olympic Games at Beijing following the disqualification of the Russian Federation boat as a result of a doping scandal. Tomkins was the Australian flag bearer at the Opening Ceremony. Tomkins and his crew finished last in the final of the men's eight and 6th overall at the Beijing Games. He is one of four athletes to compete in rowing at six Olympics, along with Romanian Elisabeta Oleniuc Lipă in 2004, Canadian cox Lesley Thompson, and Estonian Jüri Jaanson. Accolades James Tomkins was announced as the 2008 Victorian Father of the Year by the Father's Day Council of Victoria Inc. In 2010 he was inducted as a member of the Rowing Victoria Hall of Fame and that same year the International Rowing Federation awarded Tomkins the Thomas Keller Medal for his outstanding international rowing career. It is the sport's highest honor and is awarded within five years of the athlete's retirement, acknowledging an exceptional career and exemplary sportsmanship. In 2012 he was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and was elected to the IOC Athletes' Commission. He will serve as an IOC member for eight years. Tomkins also helped to build the Carey/Yarra Yarra Boat Sheds on the Yarra River in Melbourne. There is an eight named after him in Carey boatshed. Achievements 2008 Beijing Olympics Australian Flag Bearer Olympic Medals: 3 Gold, 1 Bronze World Championship Medals: 7 Gold Commonwealth Games Medals: 1 Gold, 1 Bronze King's Cup: 15 Championships FISA World Cups: 2 Gold FISA Crew of the Year: 2003, Coxless Pair Thomas Keller Medal: 2010 Olympic Games 2008 – 6th, Eight 2004 – Gold, Coxless Pair (with Drew Ginn) 2000 – Bronze, Coxless Pair (with Matthew Long) 1996 – Gold, Coxless Four (with Nick Green, Drew Ginn, Mike McKay) 1992 – Gold, Coxless Four (with Nick Green, Andrew Cooper, Mike McKay) 1988 – 5th, Eight World championships 2007 – 7th, Eight 2003 – Gold, Coxless Pair (with Drew Ginn) 2002 – 4th, Coxless Pair (with Drew Ginn) 1999 – Gold, Coxless Pair (with Drew Ginn) 1998 – Gold, Coxed Four (with Nick Green, Mike McKay, Drew Ginn and Brett Hayman 1998 – Gold, Coxed Pair (with Nick Green and