Australia will do everything in its power to finish in the top eight men's competition for a historic gold medal at the Paris Olympics, with the competition's rowing team to be announced after a week of trials in Sydney.
Australia has never won a gold medal in any of the eight Olympic events, with its best results being silver in the men's event at the 1968 Mexico Games and the 2000 Sydney Games.
After setting world-class times throughout the week at Penrith, including winning bronze at last year's World Championships and gold at the World Cup, selection committee members decided to make the big boat a 'preferred' crew.
Among them are three Olympic champions: Jack Hargreaves, Spencer Turin and Alex Purnell, all four of whom won gold medals at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The other eight members coached by coach Mark Prater are Kendall Brodie (cox), Angus Widdicombe, Joseph O'Brien, Josh Hicks, Angus Dawson and Ben Canham.
RA Performance Director Paul Thompson said: “We achieved an outstanding eighth place.”
“To add to our ambitions, we have added three Olympic champions to the men's top eight.
“And we still believe we can get a great fourth place in Paris.”
The women's eight is yet to be finalized, with selectors naming a 14-man team to cover the eight and four.
The women's pair, Annabelle McIntyre and Jessica Morrison, were part of the top four gold medalists at the Tokyo Olympics and won silver at last year's World Championships, so they are expected to lead the way at the Paris Games.
In other selections, Tara Rigney will move from double sculls to single sculls, while Tokyo quad scull bronze medalist Harriet Hudson will partner Amanda Bateman.
Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager have been selected as world champions in the PR3 mixed double sculls and will compete at their first Paralympic Games in Paris.
Australia aims to surpass the four medals it won in Tokyo, and so far nine boats from 14 classes have qualified for Paris and three for the Paralympics.
They will be aiming to qualify one more boat in the men's double sculls at the final qualifying regatta in Lucerne in May with David Bartolotto and Marcus de la Marta competing.
“We have a really strong team, especially depth,” Thompson said.
“I am confident that our staff will do Australia proud at the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“The selectors took every step and followed the speed, the data and all the evidence they had collected.
“We should aim for a strong team performance.”
Australian Team: Women: Single Sculls (W1X) Tara Rigney, Double Sculls (W2X) Amanda Bateman, Harriet Hudson, Women's Quad Sculls Team (W4X) Caitlin Cronin, Laura Gourley, Rowena Meredith, Kathryn Rowan, Leah Thompson, Coxless Pair (W2X) -) Annabelle McIntyre, Jess Morrison, Conductor Team 8 (W8+) and Women's Team 4 (W4-) Olympia Aldercy, Lily Orton, Paige Barr, Bron Win Cox, Eliza Gaffney, Molly Goodman, Sarah Howe, Jean Mitchell, Samantha Morton, Giorgia Patten, Georgina Lowe, Lucy Stephens, Jacqueline Swick, Katrina Wherry, Hayley Barbant – Pilot. Men: Coxless Pair (M2-) Paddy Holt, Simon Keenan, Double Scull (M2x) Dave Bartlot, Marcus Dela Marta, Coxless 4 (M4-) Fergus Hamilton, Alexander Hill, Tim – Masters, Jack Robertson, 8 at the helm (M8+) Kendal Brodie – Commander, Ben Canham, Angus Dawson, Jack Hargreaves, Josh Hicks, Joseph O'Brien, Alexander Purnell, Spencer Turin, Angus Widdicombe.
