What is the Rowing Australia Talent ID Programme?

The Rowing Australia Talent ID Programme is a national initiative searching for 14–19 year old Australians with the physical potential to become elite rowers, regardless of whether they have any rowing experience. It is part of the pathway toward the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games and is supported by the Australian Sports Commission.

Do I need rowing experience to apply for the Rowing Australia Talent ID Programme?

No. The programme is specifically designed to find athletes with no rowing background. If you have the right physical attributes — height, aerobic capacity, strength, and coordination — Rowing Australia will teach you everything else.

How old do you need to be for the Rowing Australia Talent ID Programme?

Applicants must be between 14 and 19 years old. The age range is designed to identify athletes at the right stage of physical development for a long-term elite pathway toward 2032.

What physical tests are involved in the Rowing Australia Talent ID testing day?

Testing is a free half-day event designed by the Australian Sports Commission. It includes six assessments: physical screening (height, weight, arm span, leg length, sitting height), a shuttle run (beep test), a bike test (seated power), a strength assessment, parent height background, and a results and feedback session. No rowing is required on the day.

What happens after the Rowing Australia Talent ID testing day?

Selected athletes are invited to join their nearest Performance Hub for coached on-water sessions from July–August 2025. Top performers then enter state-funded programmes with professional coaches and a structured pathway toward the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

Where is Rowing Australia Talent ID testing held?

Testing is held nationally across Australia. There are 10 Performance Hubs — five club programmes and five state institute programmes — to ensure access regardless of where you live. Confirmed club hubs include Sydney Rowing Club (NSW) and Swan Rowing Club (WA).

Can athletes from other sports apply for the Rowing Australia Talent ID Programme?

Yes. Talent transfer from other sports is actively encouraged. Athletes have been identified from AFL, swimming, basketball, netball, and gymnastics, as well as young people with no sport background at all.

What height do you need to be for rowing?

Height requirements vary by gender and boat class. The Talent ID Programme also considers projected adult height based on family background, so athletes who are still growing are assessed on their likely adult stature rather than their current height alone.

How does the Rowing Australia Talent ID Programme connect to Brisbane 2032?

The programme's goal is to identify at least one male and one female Olympic-calibre athlete per state by 2032. Athletes who progress through the pathway enter state-funded high performance programmes with professional coaching targeted at the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

How do I apply for the Rowing Australia Talent ID Programme?

Register online at rowingaustralia.com.au. Once registered, you will be matched to your nearest testing event or Performance Hub. National testing begins mid-June 2025. For questions, contact talentid@rowingaustralia.com.au.

Rowing Australia | Talent ID Pathway | Olympics Brisbane 2036

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED

BRISBANE 2032

AGES 14 - 21

10 PERFORMANCE HUBS

FREE TESTING

OLYMPIC PATHWAY

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED

BRISBANE 2032

AGES 14 - 21

10 PERFORMANCE HUBS

FREE TESTING

OLYMPIC PATHWAY

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED

BRISBANE 2032

AGES 14 - 21

10 PERFORMANCE HUBS

FREE TESTING

OLYMPIC PATHWAY

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED

BRISBANE 2032

AGES 14 - 21

10 PERFORMANCE HUBS

FREE TESTING

OLYMPIC PATHWAY

NO EXPERIENCE NEEDED

BRISBANE 2032

AGES 14 - 21

10 PERFORMANCE HUBS

FREE TESTING

OLYMPIC PATHWAY

Club / Institute in NSW

Sydney Rowing Club	613 Great North Road, Abbotsford NSW
Sydney University Rowing Club	348 Burns Bay Rd, Lane Cove NSW 2066
UTS Rowing Club	Dobroyd Parade, Haberfield NSW 2045

Club / Institute in VIC

Mercantile Rowing Club	5 Boathouse Drive, Melbourne VIC 3004
Melbourne University Boat Club (MUBC)	1 Boathouse Drive, Melbourne VIC 3004

Club / Institute in WA

Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS)

10 McGillivray Rd, Mt Claremont WA 6010

Club / Institute in SA

South Australian Sports Institute (SASI)

145B Railway Terrace, Mile End SA 5031

Club / Institute in QLD

Queensland Academy of Sport (QAS)

1 Queensland Sport & Athletics Centre, Kessels Rd, Nathan QLD 4111

Club / Institute in TAS

Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) – Northern Office	55 Oakden Rd, Prospect TAS 7250
Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) – Southern Office	Tech 5, 30–38 Innovation Dr, Dowsing Point TAS 7010