Georgie Rowe in box seat, as Australian rowing squad named for Toyko Olympics

JUST four years after taking up the sport Georgie Rowe will make her Olympic debut in a team of 38 Australian athletes.

More boats, more athletes, more expectation.

The Australian rowing team was named for the Olympics on Sunday with 38 athletes – 29 of them debutants – booking their seat for Japan.

In all, nine boats have qualified for the Games – one more boat than Rio – including the Australia’s women’s quad who were the last boat to qualify for the Olympics after winning their event at the “regatta of death” in Lucerne, Switzerland, in May.

Eight athletes are returning for their second Games while Joshua Booth was named for his third.

GOLD CLASS: The Australian rowing team has been announced for Tokyo. Photo: Getty Images

Australia’s strong legacy in the men’s four is set to continue with the crew strengthened during this Olympic cycle by the inclusion of arguably the world’s best rower Alex Hill.

Tokyo’s regatta program will include new event, the women’s four of which Australia are the current world champions.

In a family affair, Nick and Alexander Purnell become the first brothers on the Australian Olympic rowing team since 2004, while debutant Rosie Popa continues her family’s Olympic legacy, with parents Sue Chapman-Popa and Ion Popa medallists for Australia at Los Angeles 1984.

THANKS BRO: Nicholas Purnell is presented with his kimono by his brother Alexander Purnell during the Australian rowing team announcement for Tokyo. Photo: Getty Images

High performance director Bernard Savage said all nine boats are capable of a podium finish and was particularly impressed with the improvement of Georgie Rowe.

Rowe set multiple indoor rowing world records in 2019 and 2020 and will make her Olympic debut in the women’s eight just four years after transitioning from surf boats to rowing.

FOCUSED: Australian rower Georgie Rowe trains in isolation on her exercise bike in her brother’s garage in Narrabeen in April. Photo: Getty Images

Savage said: “We’re particularly excited about the sweep program.”

“It’s been such a disrupted 18 months … it’s hard to know where we stand against the rest of the world but the times we’re producing during training and simulation regattas are positive.

“We’re confident we can perform well.”

South Australian Hill, 28, was thrilled to make his second Olympics after claiming silver in Rio.

“The last 12 months has taught us to be resilient as a team and we have worked hard to ensure we’re the best we can be leading into these Olympic Games.

“I’m excited to see not only what we can do as a four, but also to see what the entire Australian Olympic Rowing Team can do in Tokyo.”

Australia’s rowers will finalise their preparation at a training camp in Rockhampton, chosen to replicate the heat and humidity of Japan.

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Originally published as Georgie Rowe in box seat, as Australian rowing squad named for Toyko Olympics