Olivia Sibillin
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)
Olivia commenced her rowing in 2008 at Genazzano. By 2011 she was rowing in the first eight, a crew which gained a bronze at the National Championships in the schoolgirl eights. In 2012, again in the first eight, Olivia was unable to better her bronze medal finishing fourth.
At the end of 2012, she joined Mercantile and raced a full youth season. She raced in several pair combinations and finished the 2012-13 season at the National Championships winning a bronze medal in the under 21 pairs with Didi Williams and a gold in the under 23 eights.
In 2013-14 season was a again a full youth season with even better results. Olivia raced her pair mostly with Emily Biasotto and finished with a great National Championships: Silver in the U21 pair, Gold in the U21 four, Gold in the U23 eight (again) and member of the Silver medal winning Victorian Youth Eight. A stunning season.
Above: 2014 National Champion U23 Eight – Olivia in back row, second Mercantile rower from right
The 2013-14 season was the leap to under 23 and she was in a great squad with Addy Dunkley-Smith, Katrina Werry and Adriana Marulli, to name just a couple. As expected they won the U23 four at the National Championships but Olivia had to defer to Addy and Katrina in the pair.
2015 winning Under 23 four at the Nationals with Olivier in the two seat
In the current season, Olivia has paired up with Hedda Cooper of MUBC and will race the Nationals in a composite four. So far she has amassed two Golds and a Bronze at the NSW Championships – open pair and four and also a bronze in U23 pair. Clearly her aspirations are Australian U23 selection.
Why rowing? Team aspect, close group and friendships. You have to work together to achieve anything and also work hard to get improvement. It is a sport for perfectionists.
Mercs? A very co-operative group of people who work across age groups to achieve success. We train together and work as one team.
Andrew Guerin March 2016