Athol first made state selection for South Australia in 1973 in the men's eight which contested the King's Cup at the Interstate Regatta.
He made state selection for New South Wales in 1976 in the four seat of the men's eight which contested and won the King's Cup at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships.
The Australian men's eight for the Montreal was mostly that year's King's Cup winning New South Wales crew excepting Malcolm Shaw in the two seat and Brian Richardson at bow.
[10] With Macdonald rowing at three they commenced their Olympic campaign with a heat win in a new world record time and progressed to the final.
[10] The Australian eight placed second in their heat, third in the repechage and in the final finished fourth being edged out for third by the host nation New Zealand.