Image Credit: World Rowing
Whilst it’s not often Australia sends single scullers to the U19 World Rowing Championships, when we do, they inevitably go on to enjoy a storied career. Names such as Harriet Hudson, Amanda Bateman, and Alexandra Hagan have all contested the event previously, going on to compete at multiple Olympic Games. Interestingly, although it’s been 21 years since an Australian last won this event, when Sally Kehoe claimed that prize in 2004, she was coached by Phillip Bourguinon, who is guiding this year’s sculler, Astrid Thomas.
Astrid Thomas – University of Queensland Boat Club (QLD)
The all-conquering force in junior sculling in 2025, Queenslander Astrid Thomas, has won pretty much everything there is to win domestically. In January, she took home four Queensland State Titles, before winning the NSW and Australian Championships in the U19 single. Thomas contested the senior Interstate single and eight, ultimately finishing just off the pace in fifth and sixth amongst far more experienced competition. This isn’t Astrid’s first time in the Green and Gold, though, having raced at the 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprints last year, where she took home a silver in the mixed double.
After a season that saw no one get within six seconds in a major final all year, hopes will be high for the Queenslander before she departs for Stanford next season.
