Australian rower Tara Rigney will compete at her first Olympic Games when she takes to the water at Tokyo 2020, competing in the women’s double sculls.
The Sydney-sider first took up rowing in high school but focused on netball and was named on the 2016 NSW Under 17 Development squad but two ACL injuries, each requiring 12 months rehabilitation, saw Tara pick up the oars again in 2018. The following year she was selected to represent Australia in the coxless pair at the World Rowing U23 Championships in the US where the crew finished in 10th place.
In 2019, the young rower claimed the national title in the U23 Women’s Pair and won the U23 single sculls at the NSW State Championship.
Tara Joined the Hancock Prospecting Women’s National Training Centre in 2021. At the 2021 Australian Rowing Championships, Tara claimed gold in the Open Women’s Single Sculls as well as the Nell Slatter Trophy for the Interstate Women’s Single Scull.
Officially named on to the Australian Olympic Team for the postponed Games in June 2021, Tara will contest the double sculls with crewmate Amanda Bateman.