Robinson was a New Zealand Universities athletics representative between 1955 and 1960, captaining the team in 1960 when they visited Australia. He represented New Zealand at the 1958 British Empire and Commonwealth Games in the 440 yards, but did not progress beyond the quarter-finals. At the 1960 Summer Olympics in Rome, Robinson competed in both the men's 200 m and 400 m events, being eliminated in the first round of the 200 m and reaching the quarter-finals of the 400 m. At the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, he reached the semi-finals of the 440 yards, and was eliminated in the heats of the men's 4 x 440 yards relay (running with Dave Norris, Peter Snell and Gary Philpott).