Kieran came back from the Olympic Games in Sydney as Olympic Champion in the men’s eight. This was his second year on the senior team and in his first, in 1999, he again raced in the eight winning silver behind the USA. The Olympic eights final in Sydney was seen by millions at home on TV. The eight led from the start, showing courage and flair. They built up an unassailable length's lead to become the first British Olympic Champions in the eight for 88 years.

Kieran was injured during the 2001 season and in the following seasons raced in the coxed four, winning gold in 2002 in Seville and silver in Milan in 2003. In 2004 he was the Olympic reserve and this year started the season racing in the pair at the Eton World Cup Regatta with Josh West.

Kieran's rowing career started, aged 10, in the cox's seat at Kingston Rowing Club; he quickly grew too big and took up sculling. In 1994, while trialling for the GB junior team, he sustained a back injury that was to keep him out of a boat for three years. Meanwhile his older brother Damian represented Great Britain from 1994 to 1997, and Oxford in the 1996 Boat Race. After an intensive physiotherapy programme, Kieran started rowing again at Cambridge University, making the Goldie (second) Boat in 1998, and the winning Blue Boat in 1999.