Of the 13 international athletes on Texas’ women’s rowing team, four are approximately 9,289 miles away from their home country, Australia.
In Australia, rowing is one of the most popular sports, especially in private and boarding schools.
“It was known as the thing to do. Everyone wanted to try it,” Lucy Searle, a sophomore from Orange, Australia, said.
Both Searle and sophomore Phoebe Robinson were required to pick a sport at their private schools in Australia, and they both picked row. While Searle raced throughout high school, Robinson was required to learn how to row early on in Brisbane, Australia.
“At my school specifically, we were forced to row in grade eight. … If you liked it, you obviously stayed, but if you did not like it, then you would drop it,” Robinson said. “I guess it’s just like a clique. It’s a very big group that rows in Australia.”
Robinson’s early exposure to rowing led her to numerous accomplishments before moving to Texas. She won bronze in the Coxless Four at the 2023 under-23 World Championships and gold in the Australian Women’s Eight at the 2023 Head of Shanghai.
However, the Australian rowing culture and techniques are not exactly the same as those in the United States.
Both countries are very competitive in the sport, but rowing remains team-based in Australia, as coaches prioritize athletes’ knowledge in multiple positions of the racing shell.
“They put you in everything. It’s similar in the way where they want your school to win,” Robinson said.
Comparatively, American rowers tend to focus on a singular position and commonly compete in larger boats than those used in Australia.
“When we come over and race internationally, it does take us a bit to adjust to racing in eights and everything,” Searle said. “(In Australia) they really focus heavily on technique and the Australian rhythm.”
Robinson and Searle did not leave behind the Australian rowing culture when they pursued rowing in Texas, as many of their teammates are from various cities across their home country.
“Having other Australians on the team has been amazing,” Robinson said. “We didn’t really know each other before coming in, but now we have all bonded and are really close.”
With the average flight from Austin to Australia clocking over 19 hours, the decision for these athletes to become Texas Longhorns was important. For Robinson, the character of her teammates sold her on Texas.
“In the actual decision of choosing Texas, it was completely the team,” Robinson said. “Meeting all the girls that (head coach Dave O’Neill) had recruited (and seeing they) were like-minded had made the decision extremely easy.”
With three national championships under its belt and athletes who share the same values and goals, Texas rowing is home to a diverse group of women who emphasize their team’s unique culture.
“The team culture is one of the things that makes this team,” Searle said. “I do like that we have a large international team. You get to know so many people from around the world.”
