Nicholas Purnell

Nicholas Purnell (born 4 June 1990) is an Australian rower. He competed in the Men's eight event at the 2012 Summer Olympics.

Purnell began his rowing career at Shore School in Sydney. He was a member of their Second VIII in 2007 which won that event at the AAGPS Head of the River.

In 2008 Purnell was in the seven seat of the First VIII, winning that event at the AAGPS Head of the River.

Purnell is a member of Sydney University Boat Club. He has won 5 consecutive Kings Cup races for New South Wales from 2010 to 2014.

He made his Australian senior team debut at the 2010 World Rowing Championships at Lake Karapiro, New Zealand. Despite still being eligible for the World Under 23 Rowing Championships, Purnell won a Bronze medal as part of the Men's Eight. The following year Purnell again won a Bronze medal, this time in the Men's Coxless Four at the 2011 World Rowing Championships in Bled, Slovenia.

At the London Olympic Games, Purnell was in the stroke seat of the Australian Men's Eight which placed 6th in a thrilling final where all boats were overlapping at the finish line.

After the 2012 Olympics, Purnell turned to sculling, representing Australia in the single scull at the 2013 World Rowing Championships in Chungju, South Korea, where he placed 14th. In 2014 Purnell had a second international season in the single scull, improving on the previous year, as he placed 13th at the 2014 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

2015 saw Purnell return to the Australian Men's Eight which placed 9th at the 2015 World Rowing Championships in Aiguebelette, France.

Purnell has a younger brother, Alex, who is also a rower with Sydney University Boat Club.