UQ student selected for Junior Australian rowing team

University of Queensland student Tom McTaggart will travel to Lithuania in August to represent Australia in the Junior World Rowing Championships.

The Sport Sciences student has been selected for the Australian Junior Men’s Coxed Four along with four other Brisbane-based junior rowers.

Mr McTaggart said his rowing ambition began in grade 8 when he was involved in a learn-to-row program as part of his school’s HPE curriculum.

“I completely dropped rugby to focus on rowing when I realised it was something I was good at,” McTaggart said.

“I was selected in the school’s open first crew two years in a row.”

Winning gold several times at local and international events, McTaggart became involved in a rowing development program called PASSPORT, run by Rowing Queensland, after he graduated from high school.

McTaggart juggles his full-time study with rigourous training 15 times a week.

“Studying exercise and sport sciences is a really good fit for me as it conforms nicely with what we are doing in training and really develops my understanding of the sport to a greater degree,” he said.

“Eventually I would like to work in coaching and studying this degree allows me to potentially achieve that or work alongside some great sporting teams in the role of a sports scientist.”

The team are looking for sponsors to assist with the costs of travelling overseas to compete.

Rowing Queensland provides some funds, however the bulk of the cost is left to the athletes.

Potential sponsors should contact Brendan McGrath, Head Coach, on 0432 224 563 or B.McGrath@stpeters.qld.edu.au.

Contact: Kirsten O’Leary, Communications and Media Officer, UQ Faculty of Health Sciences, +61 7 3346 4713or k.rogan@uq.edu.au