3 gold medals in Australia

By Koh Yu Han, Head (Events and Championships)

The Singapore Rowing women's team picked up three gold medals at the 2023 Australian Masters Championships held in Sydney from Jun 1 to Jun 4. The racing distance across all events was 1,000m. 

​​This regatta was a good platform for the rowers to execute and review some race preparations and strategies, and we will compete in more international regattas moving forward - with the next one lined up in July. 

The team's last international race was in May 2021, and it has since undergone various coaching and training changes over the past year - with the last 3.5 months providing the most support and structure the rowers have ever received. 

It paid off with the women's quad (4X, pictured above) of Joanna Chan, Kang Yu Jia, Sherdyn Teng and Teo Zhi Xuan finishing first and seven seconds clear of their closest opponents, out of a field of six boats. 

The women's double (2X) of Chan and Olympian Joan Poh (above) also took top spot out of 9 competitors, rekindling a successful partnership which won bronze back at the 2015 Southeast Asian Games - albeit in a pair (2-).

​And Teo picked up another champion's medal in the lightweight single (LW1X), crossing the line 1.8s ahead of the rest of the 5-boat pack.

Special shoutout to Serene Seah (above, in blue) who is 59 years old and only picked up rowing 3 years ago. She raced for her first time at a championship in a tremendously commendable and courageous effort.