Olympic Rowsellas Annabelle McIntyre OAM OLY and Jessica Morrison OAM OLY have been awarded the prestigious Gina Rinehart AO Rowing Leadership Award at the 2024 Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Awards.
Rowing Australia celebrated the accomplishments of the athletes who represented Australia at the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games, as well as the achievements and contributions of the wider rowing family, at the gala event at QT Hotel on the Gold Coast on Saturday night.
The evening, which was proudly supported by Mayor Tate and the City of Gold Coast, also saw Tokyo Gold Medal winner Alex Purnell OAM take home one of the other major awards after being named 776BC Rowers’ Rower of the Year.
The Gina Rinehart AO Rowing Leadership Award celebrated two of Australia’s brightest stars, acknowledging their exceptional leadership both on and off the water.
McIntyre and Morrison claimed the Bronze Medal in the Women’s Pair at the Paris Olympics, capping off a stellar season that saw them continue to be an outstanding team on the world stage.
“The rowers train very, very hard in their quest to represent Australia on the world stage,” Rowing Australia Patron Mrs Rinehart said in her speech.
“They could be partying or happily socialising, but no, they sacrifice over years and give their best efforts like true patriots in their desire to represent Australia to the very best of their ability.”
Rowing Australia CEO Sarah Cook OLY recognised the award winners, saying: “Annabelle and Jess are wonderful role models for our sport and demonstrate excellence in all they do.
“They are deserved winners of this major award and we are grateful to our Patron Mrs Rinehart for her ongoing support of our athletes as we embark on the journey to LA in 2028.
“Towards this journey, we are working hard to ensure we can put the best possible support around our athletes, with top level coaches and a world-class performance program. We are ambitious in our pursuit to be the top rowing nation in LA28 and to represent our country with pride.”
Purnell, who competed in Paris in the Men’s Eight after rowing in the Four in Tokyo, was awarded the 776BC Rowers’ Rower of the Year as voted by his peers.
Newly crowned Paralympic champions Jed Altschwager PLY and Nikki Ayers PLY (PR3 Mixed Double Scull) were named Para Crew of the Year for the second year running, capping off an extraordinary season that saw them power their way into the history books by winning Australia’s first ever para rowing Gold Medal.
“The achievements of Jed and Nikki highlight the exceptional progress of para rowing in Australia,” Cook said.
“Their success not only establishes a new standard of excellence but also reaffirms the strength and future potential of our para rowing community.”
The Male Crew of the Year went to Paris Paralympic Bronze Medallist Erik Horrie OAM PLY (PR1 Men’s Single Scull), while the Women’s Pair of McIntyre and Morrison were once again honoured for their world-class performances taking out Female Crew of the Year.
Christine MacLaren was awarded Coach of the Year for her contributions in guiding the PR3 Mixed Double to Paralympic Gold. MacLaren is the first woman to coach a Gold Medal at a Games in Australian rowing history.
Queensland’s Bob and Wendy Alexander were honoured with the prestigious Service to Rowing Award, one of the highest honours in the sport, which recognised an enduring contribution to rowing that spans over a century combined.
