Andrew Byrnes '05 (bottom row, second from left) and his teammates celebrate their gold medal in Beijing at the 2008 Olympic Games. The crew was inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame on June 6, 2014. (Rowing Canada Aviron) 

CALGARY, Alberta -- Having recently "retired" from rowing for Team Canada, Bates graduate Andrew Byrnes '05 received a satisfying parting gift of sorts on June 6 when he and his teammates on the 2008 Olympic gold-medal winning Canadian men's eight were inducted into the Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame.

In his eight years rowing for Team Canada, Byrnes earned the gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. One of two Olympic rookies on that team, Byrnes was one of three crew members from that boat who went on to claim the silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. In the intervening years he helped win a multitude of other World Cup championships and medals as well.

Byrnes joined his 2008 crewmates in receiving the honor. "Canada's 2008 Men's Olympic Eight captured the country's attention and inspired a generation to row," said Rowing Canada Aviron's President, Mike Walker, on rowingcanada.org. "This honour is a fitting expression of gratitude and admiration for this highly celebrated crew. On behalf of the rowing community, I would like to extend our congratulations to these nine exceptional athletes and also recognize the valuable role of their coach, Mike Spracklen."

The 6-foot-7 Byrnes, a dual citizen of Canada and the United States who was raised in Ithaca, N.Y., began his rowing career with the Bates men's rowing team. Byrnes stands tall as one of 11 Olympic athletes who attended Bates, and the only one thus far to earn a medal. 

Ithaca Times: "Row, row, row your boat." 

RowingCanada.org: "2008 Men's Eight Inducted into Canadian Olympic Hall of Fame at Calgary Celebration"