John McKinlay

Who was John McKinlay?

John D. McKinlay was an American rower and two time Olympian who competed in the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia and the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki, Finland. McKinlay was born in Detroit, Michigan and was the twin brother of oarsman Art McKinlay.

In the 1956 Summer Olympics in Melbourne, Australia he and twin brother Art McKinlay along with John Welchli and James McIntosh, won the silver medal as crew members in the four without coxswain event. The McKinlays were the only twins to compete in the 1956 Olympics. John McKinlay was also a member of the 1952 US Olympic Rowing Team.

Rowing out of the Detroit Boat Club the McKinlay twins won 6 US Rowing Championships and 8 Canadian Henley Championships. John McKinlay also made the semifinals of the Thames Cup at the Royal Henley Regatta in Great Britain in 1962. McKinlay retired from rowing in 1963 after a 13 year career. He attended and graduated from Boston University where he was captain of the crew. He was inducted into the Boston University Athletic's Hall of fame in 1985. He and the other members of the 1956 Olympic Four were inducted into the US National Rowing Hall of Fame in 1980.