Georgina Gotch
Sydney University Boat Club (NSW)
Georgina Gotch, a rower renown for her perseverance, dedication, and excellence in Australian rowing, began her journey at the prestigious Queenwood School in Sydney. She was a powerhouse in the school’s First Eight, leading the crew to victory in the Head of the River in both 2010 and 2011. But it was at the 2011 Nationals where Georgie truly began to shine. Alongside her Queenwood teammates, she claimed the Under 19 Schoolgirl National Championship. She also won the Under-19 Coxless Pair title with another member of the Queenwood First Eight. Her performances earned her a place in the Junior Australian Team, where she raced in the Junior Coxless Four at the World Championships, finishing a remarkable seventh—just missing out on the A Final but dominating the B Final by two lengths.
2011 Australian Junior Four with Georgina in bow
In 2012, Georgie continued her rise through the ranks. At the Nationals, she secured another Under-19 Coxless Pair title, as well as the Under-19 Coxless Four title. She also stroked the Interstate Women’s Youth Eight to victory for New South Wales, a testament to her leadership and skill. Her consistent performances earned her a second consecutive selection to the Junior Australian Women’s Coxless Four for the World Championships. This time, her crew made it to the A Final, finishing a competitive fifth place, continuing her progression to the world stage.
2013 marked Georgie’s transition to the Under-23 level, where she again claimed the Coxless Pair title at the Nationals and led NSW to victory in the Interstate Youth Eight for the second year running. She was selected for the Under-23 Women’s Eight at the World Championships, but despite a fierce battle in the final, the crew finished fourth—just outside the medals but demonstrating Georgie’s growing prowess on the international scene.
In 2014, Georgie’s journey continued with her first experience in senior racing at World Cup I, where she raced in the Women’s Pair and finished tenth. She returned to the Under-23 World Championships with the Women’s Eight, again finishing fourth—just shy of a podium finish but demonstrating her resilience and hunger for success.
The year 2015 marked a pivotal change in Georgie’s career, as she made the switch to sculling. Despite facing challenges, she placed strongly in several races at Nationals and earned a spot in the Women’s Quad at the Under-23 World Championships. In a thrilling final, the crew fought tooth and nail against the Polish crew, ultimately claiming a silver medal—Georgie’s first international medal. It was a defining moment in her career and a sign of the immense talent she possessed.
In 2016, Georgie was selected as the reserve for the Women’s Eight at the Rio Olympics. Although the crew finished in the B Final, the experience of being part of such a high-calibre team gave Georgie invaluable insight and a deeper resolve to make her mark in future competitions.
The following year, 2017, brought both triumph and challenge. Georgie earned her first senior National Title in the Women’s Coxless Four. However, disaster struck when she was involved in a bike crash, which sidelined her from the World Cup season and kept her out of the World Championships, where she served as a reserve.
But Georgie was never one to be beaten for long. In 2018, she returned with a vengeance. She was selected for the Women’s Eight at the World Cup season, and in World Cup II, the crew won bronze, marking Georgie’s first senior international medal. At the following World Cup, the crew finished fifth, but Georgie’s determination was clear. At the World Championships that year, the Women’s Eight led the A Final for the first 900 meters before the USA and Canada surged ahead in the final stretch. The Australian crew, however, held their ground and claimed bronze—Georgie’s first major international medal, a hard-fought and well-deserved reward for years of effort.
2018 World Championships Podium with Georgina front row second from right
In 2019, Georgie was part of a historic Interstate Regatta victory, where her NSW crew upset the dominant Victorians in a race year’s in the making. The NSW crew had been building up to this moment, and despite narrowly missing out the year before by just two seconds, they took the lead from the start and held off a fast-finishing Victorian crew to claim victory. At the World Cups that year, Georgie raced the Pair, finishing fifteenth and ninth at the respective regattas—solid results that kept her in contention for the Australian team.
Unfortunately, Georgie’s rowing career ended after the 2021 selection trials. Battling a long-standing back injury that had plagued her for the previous two years, she missed out on making the Australian team. It was a heartbreaking moment, but Georgie’s contribution to the sport had already cemented her legacy.
After retiring from rowing, Georgie remained deeply involved in the sport she loved. She returned to her roots, helping coach at Queenwood, where she inspired the next generation of rowers. She also became involved with the AIS Accelerate Program, helping to develop young talent across Australia.
Georgie Gotch’s journey is one of resilience, passion, and unwavering commitment. From her schoolgirl victories to her hard-earned international medals, Georgie exemplified what it means to be a fierce competitor and a dedicated teammate. Her story is a testament to the power of perseverance and the pursuit of excellence—traits that will continue to inspire both the rowing community and beyond.
Key Rowing Highlights
2010 NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River, 1st VIII – First
2011 NSW Schoolgirl Head of the River, 1st VIII – First
2011 National Championship Under 19 Women's Coxless Pair – First
2011 National Championship Under 19 Women's Eight – First
2011 World Rowing Junior Championships Women’s Coxless Four – Seventh
2012 National Championship Under 19 Women's Coxless Pair – First
2012 National Championship Under 19 Women's Coxless Four – First
2012 National Championship Interstate Women's Youth Eight – First
2012 World Rowing Junior Championships Women’s Coxless Four – Fifth
2013 National Championship Under 23 Women's Coxless Pair – First
2013 National Championship Interstate Women's Youth Eight – First
2013 World Rowing Championships Under 23 Women’s Eight – Fourth
2014 National Championship Open Women’s Eight – First
2014 World Rowing Cup One Women’s Coxless Pair – Tenth
2014 World Rowing Championships Under 23 Women’s Eight – Fourth
2015 World Rowing Championships Under 23 Women’s Quad Scull – Second
2017 National Championship Open Women’s Coxless Four – First
2018 World Rowing Cup Two Women’s Eight – Third
2018 World Rowing Cup Three Women’s Eight – Fifth
2018 World Rowing Championship Women’s Eight – Third
2019 National Championship Open Women’s Eight – First
2019 National Championship Interstate Women’s Eight – First
2019 World Rowing Cup Two Women’s Pair – Fifteenth
2019 World Rowing Cup Three Women’s Pair – Ninth
Jack Hargreaves
December 2024