Werry, Katrina M
- Interviews with Katrina in 2018 and 2023
- Author's own records
- World Rowing website
Mercantile Rowing Club (VIC)
Katrina commenced her rowing career at Ballarat & Clarendon College in 2008 whilst in year 9. She moved on to win the open fours back to back in 2011 and 2012. It was an excellent start to her rowing career. Why did she take up rowing at school? Like so many of us, “not that flash at the ball sports”.
Tom Abramowski saw Kat at the State Championships and invited her down for a row at Mercs. She commuted from Ballarat for training from 2011 to the end of her year 12 year in 2012. This was a massive commitment to her chosen sport.
Kat was rewarded with a Victorian blazer in 2012 in the youth eight. Perhaps more importantly, the great partnership with Addy Dunkley Smith began that year and it continued for several more years.
In 2013, another year of youth eight rowing in which Kat was selected not only into the Victorian youth eight, but also the Australian under 21 team, where she again won with Addy.
2014 was the break through year into under 23 competition where Kat and Addy thrived. They were A finalists in the pair and four and won the eight in an all Mercantile crew. Her first World Under 23 Championships followed but withour podium success. A good first season at this level.
2015 was to be a superb under 23 year for Kat and Addy finishing with a bronze medal at the World Under 23 Championships in the pair. This was after a highly successful season. Kat and Addy also raced in the successful Victorian eight which continued the unbelievable tradition of winning the Queen’s Cup.
Gold medallists at the World Championships in 2017
2016 was the break through year into the senior ranks. Whilst it was a good season, the competition in the women’s ranks at Mercs was high, let alone win at the Nationals. However Kat continued her partnership with Addy and they won the open eights and of course the Queen’s Cup.
In 2017, Kat was one of the first inductees into the National Training Centre in Penrith. Her season was stellar finishing with a World Championship win in the four. All her many other achievements that season suffered in the shadow of this great success.
In 2018 Kat was initially selected into the eight. They also had the opportunity to race at Henley Royal Regatta at which they won the Remenham Challenge Cup. However after that regatta, an injury in the four saw Kat returned to that boat. Despite the late change, the crew was able to take silver at the World Championships in a very close race.
2018 Silver Medallists – final stages of the race
At the time of updating this profile, Kat is preparing for the 2023 international season with her eyes firmly fixed on the Paris Olympic Games, and the qualification for them this season. These preparation includes competing at World Cup 2 and 3 before the World Championships. Whilst she would happily race in any boat at the Olympic Games, it is clear that she has a special love of the four, and even down to rowing in the two seat. She clearly sees that her strengths and skills can be best utilised in that boat and loves the boat's characteristics. During discussions, it is clear that she is also a positive team member of the Australian team: looking out for others and concerned about the well being of other crews.
Interestingly, Kat offered the comment that the sport has shaped her development and made her the person that she is today. She is grateful for this, and is grateful to the sport and those people her directed her to Mercantile and then to the NTC. She regards these as great gifts.
Sadly, this is likely to be Kat's last season with the rest of her life now beckoning. She will have been at the National Training Centre from 2017 to 2023, eight seasons.
The NTC life? Whilst very grateful for the opportunities provided, she did comment that it is a very intense lifestyle, both physically and mentally. Being away from loved ones is always an issue. However, she expressed great appreciation for the unique opportunity and the support provided to her - "not everyone gets to do this".
One can never underestimate both the effort involved and the depth of desire to get where she is today.
Why Mercs? Kat described herself as a shy person when she first arrived at the Club and the Club welcomed her with open arms – she was able to be herself and be accepted. She also felt safe in the warmth of the Club – it was her second home. When she returns from the National Training Centre, the Club is like an old friend, being able to pick up where you left off before going away.
Most memorable races? Obviously Kat referred to her World Championship in 2017. However she was quick to also mention the 2016 Queen’s Cup where they were not winning until they pushed through the field in the last 500 meters. The trust within the boat to achieve a win was something she had not experienced before. The whole crew believed that they could do it and trusted in each other implicitly to achieve it.
When asked the same question again 2023, she added the Olympic Games, given that it is the pinnacle of the sport despite the result, the 2022 Queen's Cup win "at home" in Victoria, and the 2019 World Cup and World Championship wins.
What do you like about rowing? Her response was very interesting as she described the sport as an offensive, not a defensive, sport. It is therefore very positive, it is energising and you cannot help but be inspired by it. The gold medal is nice, but the journey is far more important. She concluded that you would hate the sport if you took it on only for the reason of winning. It is all about the people, the team aspects of the sport, the family of it. She finished by saying how grateful she was that she took on this sport at such a young age as it provided meaning and structure to her life.
Above: The boat naming of the Katrina Werry in 2018
Your correspondent finished both the interviews much inspired by Katrina’s words and so pleased to have the privilege to speak with her.
Known rowing record
2010 - Ballarat Head of the Lake, Open Four, bow - First
2010 - National Championships, Schoolgirl Four, bow - Fourth
2011 - Ballarat Head of the Lake, Open Four - First
2011 - National Championships, Schoolgirl Four, three seat - Second
2012 - National Championships, Under 23 Eight, five seat - Third
2012 - Interstate Championships, Youth Eight, three seat - Third
2013 - National Championships, Under 23 Pair, stroke - Fourth
2013 - National Championships, Under 23 Four, three seat - Second
2013 - National Championships, Under 23 Eight, seven seat - First
2013 - Interstate Championships, Youth Eight, bow - Second
2013 - Trans Tasman Series, Under 21 sweep
2014 - National Championships, Under 23 Pair, bow - Fourth
2014 - National Championships, Under 23 Four, three seat - Fifth
2014 - National Championships, Under 23 Eight, seven seat - First
2014 - World Under 23 Championships, Under 23 Eight, three seat - Fourth
2015 - National Championships, Under 23 Pair, stroke - First
2015 - National Championships Under 23 Four, three seat - First
2015 - Interstate Championships Queen's Cup, bow - First
2015 - World Under 23 Championships, Women's Pair, stroke - Third
2016 - National Championships, Women's Four, stroke - Second
2016 - National Championships, Women's Eight, two seat - First (row over)
2017 - inducted into the National Training Centre - the first of eight years there
2017 - National Championships, Women Pair, stroke - Second
2017 - National Championships, Women's Four, three seat - Third (non composite crew)
2017 - National Championships, Women's Eight, seven seat - Second (non composite crew)
2017 - Interstate Championships, Queen's Cup, seven seat - First
2017 - World Cup 2, Women's Four, two seat - First
2017 - World Cup 3, Women's Pair, bow - Fifth
2017 - World Cup 3, Women's Four, two seat - First
2017 - World Championships, Women's Four, two seat - First
2018 - National Championships, Women's Four, stroke - Fourth
2018 - Interstate Championships, Queen's Cup - First
2018 - Henley Royal Regatta, Remenham Cup, two seat - First
2018 - World Cup 3, Women's Eight, three seat - Fifth
2018 - World Championships, Women's Four, two seat - Silver
2019 - National Championships, Women's Pair, bow - Third
2019 - National Championships, Women's Eight, stroke - Fourth (non composite crew)
2019 - Interstate Championships, Queen's Cup - Second
2019 - World Cup 2, Women's Four, two seat - Third
2019 - World Cup 3, Women's Four, two seat - First
2019 - World Championships, Women's Four, two seat - First
2020 - National and Interstate Championships cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2020 - World Championships, selected but event cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 - National Championships, Women's Pair, bow - Fourth
2021 - National Championships, Women's Four - Silver
2021 - National Championships, Women's Eight - First
2021 - Interstate Championships, Queen's Cup, two seat - First
2021 - Olympic Games, Women's Eight, seven seat - Fifth
2022 - National Championships, Women's Pair, bow - First
2022 - National Championships, Women's Four - Second
2022 - Interstate Championships, Queen's Cup, seven seat - First
2022 - World Cup 2, Women's Four, two seat - First
2022 - World Cup 3, Women's Four - withdrew due to COVID in the crew.
2022 - World Championships, Women's Four, two seat - Bronze
2023 - National Championships, Women's Pair, bow - First
2023 - National Championships, Women's Four, stroke - Fourth
2023 - Interstate Championships, Queen's Cup, three seat - First
Sources
Andrew Guerin
November 2018 (updated in June 2023)