Hall of Fame

Originally posted on goravens.ca

“From 2010 to 2014 Matthew Fournier was an incredible athlete who brought a level of prestige to Carleton rowing that has set the standard for future generations of student-athletes. Fournier placed in podium positions over 35 times during his career including winning an astonishing 18 gold medals. Fournier captured the 2013 Canadian University Rowing Championship gold medal in the men’s lightweight single before capping off his career by winning gold in the same event at the 2014 OUA Championship and the Canadian University Rowing Championship. In 2014, Fournier was named the OUA Male Rower of the Year, the Canadian University Rowing Outstanding Male Rower of the Year, and was selected to represent Canada at the 2014 Commonwealth Rowing Championships and the 2015 FISU Universiade.”

It was truly an honor to be chosen as one of the five athletes inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022. Considering the incredible talent that has come through Carleton University, it’s a privilege to be included. As the first rowing athlete inducted, I’m very grateful to bring a bit more recognition to a sport I dedicated so much of my life to.

I joined the Carleton Ravens varsity rowing team during my first year in 2010. It was (and still is) one of the smaller teams out of the Canadian universities but usually has a few strong athletes. During my first year, I was lucky to have competed in the heavyweight 2x with a veteran athlete who was completing his master’s degree. At the Ontario University Championships, we placed second. This result also got me recognized as the team male MVP. A title I would go on to reclaim three more times in my university career.

That OUA podium in my first year was an indication that I was capable of competing with the best athletes across Canadian universities. This led to many medals throughout my university seasons, mostly in the lightweight 1x and lightweight 2x.

​Due to travel budget constraints, I wasn’t able to compete at the Canadian University Championships until 2013, when it was held in Montreal, making it possible for me to attend. ​Coming off double silver in the lightweight 1x and 2x at the OUA Championships, I was excited to see how I would compare to the best university athletes in the country. ​I competed in the lightweight 1x. The field was stacked, with many of the A finalists being current national team members. To my surprise and excitement, I came away with the gold.

That Canadian University Championships gold capped off the season nicely and set the tone for me as I prepared for my next and final season.

​During the summer of 2014, I was selected to represent Canada at the Commonwealth Rowing Championships in Scotland. Against an international field, I came home with gold in the lightweight 2x and silver in the lightweight 1x.

This success carried forward into my final university season, where I won gold at every regatta in the lightweight single. This culminated in double gold at the OUA Championships in the lightweight 1x and 2x, followed by a repeat gold in the lightweight 1x at the Canadian University Championships. The accomplishments of that season earned me the title of 2014 OUA Male Rowing Athlete of the Year and Canadian University Male Rower of the Year.

​I topped off my university career the following summer by once again representing Team Canada on the international stage. In 2015, I competed in the FISU Universiade in Gwangju, South Korea, placing 6th in the A final in the lightweight 2x.

Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is an incredible honor, and I hope it inspires future Carleton rowers to aim just as high.