They first achieved success seated as Nick Green (bow), Mike McKay (two), Samuel Patten (three) and James Tomkins stroke, when they won gold at the 1990 World Rowing Championships in Lake Barrington.

[2] In lead-up races before the 1992 Olympics the crew's dominance was challenged by fours from the Netherlands and the USA but after a seat swap by Donaldson between Cooper and Green and the adoption of the new short "cleaver" blades they won gold at Barcelona 1992.

[7] Following a break in 1997, they returned to world-class rowing in 1998, winning gold at the 1998 Cologne World Championships as a coxed four steered by Brett Hayman.

Again at Athens 2004, the coxless four contained all-new faces, while Tomkins and Ginn took gold in a pair and Mike McKay rowed in the 8+.

At London 2012, Drew Ginn provided a single link to the previous Foursomes[9] when he was selected in the two-seat of Australia's coxless four with James Chapman, Josh Dunkley-Smith and Will Lockwood.