Alex Purnell

NSW | Sydney University Boat Club

Having represented Australia in the Junior Team in 2013 and the U21 team in 2014, in 2015 Purnell raced in the Men's U23 Quad Scull in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Purnell went on in 2015 to win bronze in the event, while in 2016 he raced in the Men's Eight at the U23 World Championships. In 2017, Purnell was been named in the Men's Eight for World Cups 2 and 3 and the World Championships. In 2018, Purnell was named as a reserve for the Men's Australian Rowing Team, covering both sweep and sculling boats, however post World Rowing Cups, he won selection to the Men's Quadruple Scull for the 2018 World Rowing Championships.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, held in July 2021, Purnell won an Olympic Gold Medal in the Men's Four with crew mates Alexander Hill, Alexander Purnell and Jack Hargreaves. It was a famous victory that broke Australia's run of three consecutive Olympic Silver Medals in this boat class. Further, the result came almost 25 years to the day since Australia last won gold in this race at Atlanta 1996.

Purnell is the younger brother of Australian rowing Olympian, Nicholas, and likes to listen to Two Strong Hearts by John Farnham before going out on the water.

In 2022, Purnell remained in the Men's Coxless Four, with fellow Olympic Champions Spencer Turrin OAM and Jack Hargreaves OAM, as well as fellow Olympian Jack O'Brien. At World Cup 2 in Poznan, Poland the crew remained undefeated and retained the Gold Medal.

The same crew competed at the World Cup III regatta and the 2022 World Rowing Championships held in Racice, Czech Republic.  At both said regattas, the Four finished with a Silver Medal. 

At the 2023 Rowing World Championships, Alex and the men's four raced to qualify for the Paris Olympics. A 2nd place finish in their heat, followed by a third place run in the semi-finals was enough for the Australian men's four to qualify for the Paris Games.

At the 2024 World Rowing Cup II, Alex competed in the men's eight, which finished in fourth position. Alex later recieved a gold medal in the men's eight at World Rowing Cup III. 

Alex currently sits in the six seat of the Men's Coxed Eight.