Oscar Ruston

Oscar began rowing in 2017 for the Gisborne Rowing Club while attending Gisborne Boys’ High School. He showed early promise in the sport, earning multiple medals at the Maadi Cup throughout his school years.

In 2019, he won a silver medal in the Boys’ U16 Double Scull, followed by another silver in the Boys’ U18 Double Scull in 2021. That same year, Oscar became the national champion in the Men’s U18 Single Scull – one of the most prestigious titles in New Zealand school rowing.

Following his standout school career, Oscar joined the Hawke’s Bay Rowing Club, where he made an immediate impact. At his first National Championships in 2022, he claimed gold in the Men’s Senior Double Scull which was an exceptional achievement for a first-year club rower. Later that year, representing the University of Otago at the New Zealand University Rowing Championships, he secured three silver medals in the Quad, Double, and Eight events. In 2022 Oscar made his first New Zealand International team where he was part of the U21 New Zealand team, competing in Canberra in the Transtasman regatta

Oscar’s momentum continued into 2023, marking a breakout season that established him as one of New Zealand’s most promising young scullers. He won five medals at the NZ Rowing Championships, including two golds in the Men’s Senior Quad and U22 Double Scull. These performances earned him reselection into the the New Zealand U21 Trans-Tasman team, where he competed against Australia. Oscar was then selected to the U23 reserve single scull to travel with and support the U23 New Zealand team at the World Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Following this success, Oscar was invited to train as part of the Waikato Performance Hub under renowned coach Dick Tonks for the 2023-2024 summer season.  

In 2024, Oscar was again selected to represent New Zealand, this time as the Men’s Single Sculler for the U23 World Championships. Earlier that season, he had won three gold medals at the NZ Rowing Championships, including victory in the Premier Men’s Quad – earning him the prestigious Red Coat. Oscar went on to finish a highly impressive fourth at the U23 World Championships held in Canada, confirming his potential to succeed on the world stage.

Throughout the 2025 domestic season, he consistently challenged New Zealand’s top elite scullers in the Men’s Single, further cementing his reputation as one of the country’s fastest rising talents. At the 2025 NZ Rowing Championships, Oscar won the Premier Double Scull with Waikato teammate Robbie Manson, as well as titles in the Premier Quad and U22 Single Scull, adding to his already impressive medal collection.

After another outstanding year of racing, Oscar was once again selected as the Men’s Single Sculler for the 2025 U23 World Rowing Championships in Poland. Upon returning home, he was named in the New Zealand Elite Summer Squad for the 2025–2026 season, recognising his exceptional performances and consistency across recent years.

Oscar had a phenomenal first year racing with the Elite Summer Squad. At the National Championships he won three silver medals in the Men’s Premier Single, Four, and Eight, along with a bronze medal in the Premier Men’s Quad. These outstanding performances earned Oscar an Elite trial for the World Cup team, where he was successful in securing a place in the New Zealand Elite Men’s Quad. For the first time, Oscar competed as an Elite rower on the international stage and made the A Final at World Cup II in Bulgaria. Following the regatta he was selected as a non-travelling reserve for the 2026 New Zealand Elite World Championships Team. In this role, he will continue to train alongside the national team and play an important part in their preparation leading into the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.

Oscar is known for his positive energy, professionalism, and relentless dedication to improvement. Outside of rowing, he runs his own window-cleaning business in Cambridge and is studying at the University of Waikato. Oscar’s hobbies include fishing, cycling, surfing and just being outdoors!