Article courtesy of the Rowing Australia.
Rowing Australia is excited to announce that Hancock Prospecting, Australia’s leading mining and agricultural company, will back Australia’s rowers in their journey to the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games after renewing its Major Partnership with the sport.
The four-year funding agreement will see Hancock Prospecting and Rowing Australia Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO continue to provide direct funding to elite athletes and enable them to have a laser-focus on chasing their dreams to represent our country to the best of their ability.
Hancock’s and Mrs Rinehart’s valued relationship with Rowing Australia dates back to 2015 and has revolutionised the High-Performance program. The results were on show in Tokyo in 2021, when Australian rowers collected two Gold Medals and two Bronze Medals at the Olympic Games and a Silver Medal at the Paralympic Games.
Rowing Australia President Rob Scott thanked Hancock Prospecting and Mrs Rinehart AO for their unwavering support, saying the partnership not only empowered our athletes but also strengthened the sport of rowing in Australia.
“This is exceptional news for Rowing Australia as an organisation and in particular our athletes, who are preparing for the World Championships and then next year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Mr Scott said.
“Hancock Prospecting’s support of Rowing Australia reflects the company’s commitment to fostering growth, nurturing talent, and helping our athletes achieve greatness.
“This is a major commitment, and we are truly grateful to have a partnership of this significance underpinning our sport. We are indebted to Hancock Prospecting and Mrs Rinehart AO for this outstanding contribution.”
Mrs Rinehart relationship with rowing goes well beyond funding. She is connected to the athletes and most recently visited them in July in Europe, where they were training ahead of a World Cup regatta. She also presents The Gina Rinehart Rowing Leadership Award at the annual Hancock Prospecting Rower of the Year Gala ceremony.
One of Australia’s Tokyo Olympic champions, Annabelle McIntyre OAM, said the heights she achieved would not be possible without Mrs Gina Rinehart AO and Hancock Prospecting championing her cause. McIntyre was a member of the victorious Women’s Four in Tokyo and hopes to qualify in the Women’s Pair for Paris alongside Jess Morrison OAM.
“This is incredible news for Australian Rowing. We’ve been very fortunate to have Mrs Rinehart AO’s support since before Rio and you can see the outcomes of that backing through our team’s consistent performances on the international stage, year after year,” McIntyre said.
“The continued support from Mrs Rinehart AO and Hancock Prospecting is exciting as it not only allows us to keep pushing towards qualifying for the Paris Olympic and Paralympic Games in Belgrade later this year but will help the next generation of rowers coming through to achieve their dreams on the road to LA 2028.”
Tokyo Bronze Medal winner Jack Cleary echoed those sentiments. He has spent the European summer competing and training in Europe with the rest of the men’s team and knows that wouldn’t have happened without Hancock Prospecting paving the way.
“We understand how blessed we are to have Mrs Rinehart AO in our corner as we prepare to take on the best in the world,” Cleary said. “To have that support in place through to 2028 is remarkable and gives us every confidence we can be at our very best on the biggest stage.”
Rowing Australia Chief Executive Officer Sarah Cook OLY said the commitment would set rowing up for more success and give the sport the confidence to plan for a new era of growth and top-notch performance.
“This is another example of the game-changing support Mrs Rinehart AO shows to Australian sport,” Cook said. “The sky is the limit for Rowing Australia with Hancock Prospecting powering us through another Olympic cycle.”
About Hancock Prospecting
Hancock Prospecting is a leading mining and agricultural company in Australia. The private company has grown into an industry leader under the vision and leadership of Executive Chairman, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO. Mrs Rinehart is committed to fostering excellence and supporting various sporting and other worthwhile initiatives, including Rowing Australia, and aims to make a significant positive impact. Hancock is already the most successful private company in Australia’s history and is proud to be recognised by its employees as a great company to work for and help thrive.
About Rowing Australia
Rowing Australia is the governing body for the sport in Australia. RA is dedicated to fostering the development of rowing talent throughout schools, clubs and pathways and achieving sporting success on the international stage. Rowing Australia plays a vital role in promoting the sport’s growth and nurturing a strong community of rowers across the country.
