Rowers back among the medals after Paris Olympics flop
Back on the water after their worst Olympic performance in 36 years, the Australian rowing team has claimed five medals at the World Cup in Varese, Italy.
Triple Olympian Alex Hill, winner of a Tokyo gold and Rio silver medal in the men's four, led a new-look crew to victory as his squad sought to rebound after a lean Paris yield.
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Australian rowers left France with just one bronze, won by women's pair Annabelle McIntyre and Jess Morrison, which prompted a searching review of the high performance program.
The 2024 result brought to an end a stunning run by Australian crews which had yielded seven medals, including three gold from the quartet dubbed the "Oarsome Foursome".
Hill was joined in Italy by two new faces in the boat in Nikolas Pender and Austin Reinehr as well as Fergus Hamilton, who was part of the crew that finished last in the Paris final.
The Australians executed a measured and clinical race to take the gold medal, surging ahead of both Dutch crews in the closing stages.
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Veteran Paralympian Erik Horrie also claimed gold, dominating the PR1 men's single sculls final to clinch his first World Cup win since 2022.
After winning Tokyo gold, a reworked women's four failed to make the final in Paris. A new selection picked up silver in Varese in Jaime Ford, Eliza Gaffney, Georgina Rowe and Jacqueline Swick.
Lisa Greissl and Sam Stunell, racing together internationally for the first time, also won silver in the PR3 mixed double sculls.
The women's eight added bronze after battling through a highly competitive final, finishing just behind Great Britain and the United States.
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Rowing Australia Performance Director Paul Thompson praised the team's execution and composure, with 17 rowers making their senior debut, signalling a generational change.
"It's not just about the results - what's pleasing is how these crews are going about it," Thompson said.
"Erik (Horrie) and the men's four were outstanding and we've got some new rowers on the podium, which is great to see."
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