Duval was born in Sydney and attended St. Joseph's College, Hunters Hill, where he took up rowing.

For eight consecutive years from 1962 to 1969 he was seated in the New South Wales state eight which contested the Kings Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships.

In 1966 he was selected at three in the Australian coxed four which competed at the 1966 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Yugoslavia.

[4] Four years later in 1968 he stroked the Australian boat to a silver medal in the men's eight competition at the Mexico Olympics.

He was the foundation coach of the Varsity College Rowing Program on the Gold Coast, Queensland.