He competed at the highest levels as both a sculler and a sweep oarsman, in both lightweight and open divisions, across all boat classes.

[4] Starting out as sweep rower Antonie was selected in the Victorian state representative lightweight four to race the Penrith Cup at the Australian Rowing Championships for four consecutive years 1977 to 1980.

He demonstrated his versatility the following year stroking the Victorian heavyweight men's eight to a King's Cup victory.

[8] From 1990 to 1992 he was the Victorian state representative picked to race the President's Cup (open heavyweight single scull) at the Australian Rowing Championships.

The following year that crew with bowman Colin Smith replaced by Vaughan Bollen raced at the Copenhagen 1978 and took bronze.

He was picked to row the lightweight single scull for Hazelwinkel 1985 and the following year in the same event, Antonie finally won gold and a World Championship title at Nottingham 1986.

Then at Raoudnice 1993 and Indianapolis 1994 Antonie made his final World Championship appearances for Australia racing a heavyweight double scull.

It is the sport's highest honour and is awarded within five years of the athlete's retirement, acknowledging an exceptional rowing career and exemplary sportsmanship.