Grace Prendergast

Grace Prendergast, born on June thirtieth, nineteen ninety-two, is a distinguished former New Zealand sweep rower. Hailing from Christchurch, she began her rowing journey at the Avon Rowing Club in two thousand seven, quickly establishing herself as a formidable competitor in the sport.

Throughout her illustrious career, Prendergast achieved remarkable success, becoming a fifteen-time national champion in the premier category. She is celebrated as an Olympic champion, having secured gold in the coxless pair and silver in the eight at the Tokyo Olympics, where she also set a new world’s best time in the pair.

In addition to her Olympic triumphs, Grace is a five-time world champion and was recognized as the highest-ranked female rower in the world in both two thousand nineteen and two thousand twenty-one. Since two thousand fourteen, she has partnered with Kerri Gowler in the coxless pair, showcasing their exceptional synergy on the water.

Prendergast's achievements extend beyond international competitions; she also made her mark in the prestigious Boat Race, competing as part of the Cambridge University Boat Club's women's crew in two thousand twenty-two. After an extraordinary career, she announced her retirement from professional rowing in October two thousand twenty-two.