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 Identification

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

Australia has a long history of identifying and developing talented athletes from a wide range of sporting backgrounds.

Our Talent Identification (TID) testing is designed to help uncover athletes with the physical attributes, mindset and untapped potential to succeed in rowing. We are currently seeking male and female athletes aged 14–21, including both aspiring rowers and athletes from other sports interested in talent transfer opportunities.

What We Look For

Talent is more than current performance. We look for a combination of attributes linked to long-term rowing potential, including:

✅ Height and arm span
✅ Strength and power
✅ Aerobic capacity
✅ Athletic background and trainability
✅ Competitive mindset and willingness to learn

For talent transfer athletes, previous sporting experiences and endurance indicators may also help inform potential.

We begin by getting to know you.

This includes:

Height, arm span, weight and seated height measurements
Discussion about your sporting background and achievements
Any rowing or ergometer experience
Family sporting background (where relevant)

Importantly, we’re not just looking at where you are now, but what you may be capable of developing into.

You’ll also have time to warm up and familiarise yourself with the testing before beginning.

Dyno and Vertical Jump

The Dyno and Vertical Jump tests work together to assess both maximal strength and explosive power. Athletes should aim to give their best effort, understanding that these results contribute to an overall evaluation rather than a single pass-or-fail outcome.

Using the Concept2 Dyno, athletes complete three rowing-relevant power tests:

Leg Press
Arm Press
Arm Pull

Each is completed as a maximal 3-repetition effort, helping assess strength and power characteristics important in rowing.

Why do we measure Vertical Jump?

Vertical Jump is included in Talent ID because it helps assess explosive leg power, an important quality in rowing. While rowing is an endurance sport, the ability to produce force and power through the legs is critical for acceleration, race starts and boat speed.

How is it tested?

The test is simple:

First, your standing reach is measured
Then you perform a maximum vertical jump from a stationary start
The difference between your reach and jump height becomes your score

This may be measured using a jump mat, force plate or similar equipment.

Vertical Jump is one indicator of athletic potential and is considered alongside other testing measures as part of a broader assessment.

Athletes complete an arm-leg endurance test, where intensity increases progressively until the target rate can no longer be maintained.

This gives insight into:

Aerobic fitness
Work capacity
Endurance potential

Following testing, we’ll talk through the session and outline next steps.

Talent testing is not simply about “passing” or “failing.” It is one part of identifying athletes with long-term development potential, and for some, it may open the door to further opportunities in rowing pathways.

We begin by getting to know you.

This includes:

Height, arm span, weight and seated height measurements
Discussion about your sporting background and achievements
Any rowing or ergometer experience
Family sporting background (where relevant)

Importantly, we’re not just looking at where you are now, but what you may be capable of developing into.

You’ll also have time to warm up and familiarise yourself with the testing before beginning.

Using the Concept2 Dyno, athletes complete three rowing-relevant power tests:

Leg Press
Arm Press
Arm Pull

Each is completed as a maximal 3-repetition effort, helping assess strength and power characteristics important in rowing.

Why do we measure Vertical Jump?

How is it tested?

The test is simple:

First, your standing reach is measured
Then you perform a maximum vertical jump from a stationary start
The difference between your reach and jump height becomes your score

This may be measured using a jump mat, force plate or similar equipment.

Vertical Jump is one indicator of athletic potential and is considered alongside other testing measures as part of a broader assessment.

Athletes complete an arm-leg endurance test, where intensity increases progressively until the target rate can no longer be maintained.

This gives insight into:

Aerobic fitness
Work capacity
Endurance potential

Following testing, we’ll talk through the session and outline next steps.

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