Sydney University Boat Club member Tara Rigney made it back-to-back bronze medals in the Women’s Single Scull with a strong performance at the World Rowing Championships being held in Belgrade.
Rigney, a Sydney University Sport and Fitness Elite Athlete Program member, won bronze at the 2022 Championships held in the Czech Republic. She also won a silver medal in the same event at the 2022 World Cup III regatta, to confirm her 2024 Paris Olympic Games campaign is well on track.
The gold medal in the Belgrade race was won by the defending champion, Karolien Florijn of The Netherlands, in 7:14.35, with Emma Twigg of New Zealand taking silver in 7:19.43. Rigney held on in a strong field to finish third in 7:21.07.
Her coach, Ellen Randell, said the three-time Australian champion should be very proud of her bronze. “She tried to go out with Karolien and then move with her,” Randell said. “Obviously Karolien’s at a different level right at the minute, but Tara rowed a great third 500m and put herself in a position. But she did just didn’t have the legs to get on top. Next year … looking forward to that.”
Rigney teamed with Amanda Bateman to finish 7th in the Women’s Double Scull at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games before switching to the single scull. Her performances in 2022 at the World Championships, the World Rowing Cup regattas and at the Gold Cup in Philadelphia backed up her efforts locally where she won the NSW Rowing Championships and was a member of the Sydney University crew that won the 2022 Australian Boat Race against Melbourne University. She was named The Australian Female Rower of the Year and Sydney University Sportswoman of the year.
Off the water, Rigney is studying for a Bachelor Commerce degree and plans to continue her studies at Post-Graduate level.
