The women’s pair at the Australian University Games is an exciting race that showcases emerging talent and key contributors across the U21, U23, and Open sweep categories. As the Australian regatta season begins, this event offers a preview of the racing to come, with athletes returning from the U23 World Rowing Championships and old rivalries reigniting. This is an event you won’t want to miss!
Sydney University
Sydney University are consistently among the favourites at the Australian University Games after winning the overall university championship last year, and that’s no different this time. With key performances of Olivia Nattey and Tiffany Botha coming off the U23 Australian campaign racing in the women’s four and the Women’s eight, respectively, these girls will be a strong contender within this pool. Arriving with the coaching experience of Tom Laurich, who also has recently been with the U23 Australian men’s quad, this team looks to lead the charge for the women’s pair. After placing fifth together in the U23 women’s pair A-final at the Australian National Championships, these girls are experienced training partners looking to make the top podium spot in this category.
Sydney University 2
The crew of Alexandra O’Brien and Alyssa Fikkers are looking to make up this field as O’Brien comes with experience from competing and winning the New South Wales Youth State Eight at the last Australian National Championships, and additionally bronze in the U23 eight with fellow Sydney University teammates Tiffany Botha and Olivia Nattey. O’Brien also placed second in the U21 four in the A-final. Additionally, Alyssa Fikkers has had a successful 2024 season, being on the podium at the Australian National Championships, bronze in the U21 Women’s pair, silver in the U21 quad, U23 eight and representation in the NSW Youth eight, placing third. Under the guidance of internationally experienced coach Philip Bourguignon, these girls will be looking for a second-place finish in a race against their experienced teammates.
UWABC
Athletes Kady Wall and Kayla Kalweit have time in the boat together working to secure a spot in the U23 B final last year in the 2025 Australian National Championships. Wall recently won the C-grade women’s pair and the B-grade women’s eight at the 2025 RWA state championships. Kalweit recently came second in the B-grade women’s four, winning the open women’s double scull and the Ann Tamigi championship women’s eight at Champion Lakes. With this recent racing experience, making the A-final will be smooth, and these girls are tracking for third against the UTS.
UTS
UTS are always highly competitive, and this partnership doesn’t disappoint. With Charli Griebel coming fourth in the UTS eight at nationals and previously winning third at the NSW State Championships, Griebel is now jumping into the small boats to test it with Harris. Olivia Harris is a dual athlete juggling commitments as a netballer and rower. This pair, coached by 2024 U21 Trans-Tasman coach Australian Sam Fennessy, will now face off against Western Australia and Sydney University crews. This combination will fight in the middle of the pack and ultimately look for fourth.
UWABC
Ava Myler has recently shown time within sweep boats, coming fourth in the women’s four in the WA State Pennant Regatta, with Nuala Holland also competing. These girls want to prove themselves in the pair against more experienced crews. Myler came third in the champion women’s open coxless four and first in the women’s B-grade eight in the 2025 RWA State Championships. Holland has recently been competing in the Oceania U22 team for WA in the eight, four and double scull. I predict these girls will be in the middle of the pack, looking to pace with their counterparts in the UWABC pair to make the A-final.
Adelaide Uni
The Adelaide girls, Georgina Southcott and Lara Paynter, came together to race last year at Uni Nationals and came fifth in the A-final. Georgina Southcott recently competed in the 2025 Oceania U22 Teams Rowing Championships, placing in the back end of the field in the women’s double scull and quad. Lara Paynter has previously raced in the South Australian Rowing Championships in boat classes of the open women’s eight, open women’s quad and open women’s four. With a combination of experience and young blood, Adelaide University will be looking to regroup and come together for redemption in this pair against their rival WA crew.
Prediction
The University Nationals feature a wide range of skills and age groups, from experienced U23 crews to Open and even younger U21 crews, which will likely produce a broad spread of results. The clear favourites are Sydney University’s crew of Tiffany Botha and Olivia Nattey, followed by their teammates Alexandria O’Brien and Alyssa Fikkers. Finally, the University of Western Australia is expected to battle UTS for third place in the final.
