Sam Beltz
Lindisfarne Rowing Club (TAS)
Beltz' international rowing career began in 1999, where he competed in the World Rowing Cup III in the Lightweight Quad Scull, finishing 6th. That same year, he secured a 3rd place finish at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in the Lightweight Quad Scull, marking the beginning of his rise in lightweight rowing.
In 2000, he competed again at the Under 23 Championships, where his Lightweight Quad Scull finished 7th. The following year, in 2001, Beltz participated in the World Rowing Cup IV, where his Lightweight Coxless Pair crew finished 11th, and he raced in the Lightweight Eight and Lightweight Coxless Pair at the World Rowing Championships, finishing 6th and 10th, respectively. These early years showed that Beltz was quickly establishing himself in the lightweight category.
By 2002, Beltz had begun to assert his dominance on the national stage, winning the National Championship Lightweight Coxless Four and the Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup—two significant victories for his career. Internationally, his Lightweight Quad Scull finished 2nd at the World Rowing Championship, cementing Beltz as one of Australia's top lightweight rowers.
The 2003 season was another banner year for Beltz. He won both the National Lightweight Eight and the Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup, continuing his domestic success. Internationally, he raced in the Lightweight Quad Scull, finishing 3rd at the World Rowing Cup III and 2nd at the World Rowing Championships, narrowly missing out on a world title.
2004 saw Beltz continue to perform well, with his Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup crew claiming 1st place and his Lightweight Eight finishing 3rd at the World Rowing Championships.
On the podium at the 2004 World Championships - Sam standing second from the left
Photo from the Hebfotos collection - Photographer Peter Spurrier
In 2005, Beltz dominated the National Championships, winning the Lightweight Single Scull, Lightweight Double Scull, Lightweight Quad Scull, and Lightweight Eight events, showcasing his versatility across multiple boat classes. His performances at the World Rowing Championships, however, were a mixed bag, with a 20th place finish in the Lightweight Double Scull, but his success on the domestic scene was undeniable.
2006 was another strong year, as he continued his dominance in the Lightweight Eight, winning the National Championship and taking 4th place in the Lightweight Double Scull at the World Rowing Championship. He also had strong finishes in the World Rowing Cups, securing 4th place in both World Rowing Cup I and II in the Lightweight Double Scull.
In 2007, Beltz had another standout year, winning the National Lightweight Single Scull and claiming 4th place in both the World Rowing Cup III and World Rowing Championships in the Lightweight Double Scull.
In 2008, Beltz competed in the Beijing Olympics as part of the Lightweight Double Scull team, where he finished 10th, an outcome that was a tough result for him but still a significant international experience.
After a year of regrouping, Beltz came back strong in 2010, winning the National Championships in the Lightweight Coxless Pair, Lightweight Coxless Four, and Lightweight Eight, marking another excellent season for him. At the World Rowing Championships, he and his crew finished 2nd in the Lightweight Coxless Four, earning a silver medal.
Sam on the podium at 2010 World Championships - third from the left
Photo from the Guerin collection
2011 was another peak year for Beltz, as he claimed victory in the National Lightweight Coxless Pair, Lightweight Coxless Four, and Lightweight Eight. His crew in the Lightweight Coxless Four also clinched the World Championship title that year, marking a career high with his first World Championship gold.
In 2012, Beltz continued to impress, winning the National Championship in the Open Coxless Four and the Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup. At the London Olympics, he raced in the Lightweight Coxless Four, and though the team finished just shy of the podium in 4th place, it was another testament to his high-level competitive spirit and skill.
Sam in the two seat of 2012 Olympic Lightweight Four in the final
Photo from the Guerin collection
Beltz' final year of international competition came in 2014, where he continued to perform at a high level. He won the National Championship Lightweight Coxless Pair and took part in the World Rowing Cups, finishing 6th at World Cup I and 5th at World Cup III in the Lightweight Coxless Four. At the World Rowing Championships, his Lightweight Coxless Four crew finished 5th, wrapping up a distinguished career at the top of lightweight rowing.
Samuel Beltz' career is defined by his dominance in lightweight rowing, both on the national and international levels. With multiple National Championships, World Cup podiums, and a World Championship gold medal in 2011, he solidified his place as one of Australia's leading lightweight rowers. His Olympic appearances in 2008 and 2012, while falling short of a medal, contributed to his legacy as a consistent and high-level competitor over many years
Some rowing highlights
1999 World Rowing Cup III Lightweight Quad Scull – Sixth
1999 World Rowing Under 23 Championship Lightweight Quad Scull – Third
2000 World Rowing Under 23 Championship Lightweight Quad Scull – Seventh
2001 World Rowing Cup IV Lightweight Coxless Pair – Eleventh
2001 World Rowing Championship Lightweight Eight – Sixth
2001 World Rowing Championship Lightweight Coxless Pair – Tenth
2002 National Championship Lightweight Coxless Four – First
2002 National Championship Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup – First
2003 National Championship Lightweight Eight – First
2003 National Championship Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup – First
2003 World Rowing Cup III Lightweight Quad Scull – Third
2003 World Rowing Championship Lightweight Quad Scull – Second
2004 National Championship Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup – First
2004 World Rowing Championship Lightweight Eight – Third
2005 National Championship Lightweight Single Scull – First
2005 National Championship Lightweight Double Scull – First
2005 National Championship Lightweight Quad Scull – First
2005 National Championship Lightweight Eight – First
2005 National Championship Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup – First
2005 World Rowing Championship Lightweight Double Scull – Twenth
2006 National Championship Lightweight Eight – First
2006 National Championship Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup – First
2006 World Rowing Cup I Lightweight Double Scull – Fourth
2006 World Rowing Cup II Lightweight Double Scull – Fourth
2006 World Rowing Championship Lightweight Double Scull – Fourth
2007 National Championship Lightweight Single Scull – First
2007 World Rowing Cup III Lightweight Double Scull – Fourth
2007 World Rowing Championship Lightweight Double Scull – Fourth
2008 World Rowing Cup II Lightweight Double Scull – Tenth
2008 World Rowing Cup III Lightweight Double Scull – Seventh
2008 Beijing Olympic Games Lightweight Double Scull – Tenth
2010 National Championship Lightweight Coxless Pair – First
2010 National Championship Lightweight Coxless Four – First
2010 National Championship Lightweight Eight – First
2010 National Championship Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup – First
2010 World Rowing Cup II Lightweight Coxless Four – Fifth
2010 World Rowing Cup III Lightweight Coxless Four – Seventh
2010 World Rowing Championship Lightweight Coxless Four – Second
2011 National Championship Lightweight Coxless Pair – First
2011 National Championship Lightweight Coxless Four – First
2011 National Championship Lightweight Eight – First
2011 National Championship Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup – First
2011 World Rowing Cup III Lightweight Coxless Four – Fourth
2011 World Rowing Championship Lightweight Coxless Four – First
2012 National Championship Open Coxless Four – First
2012 National Championship Men's Interstate Lightweight Four Penrith Cup – First
2012 World Rowing Cup II Lightweight Coxless Four – Seventh
2012 World Rowing Cup III Lightweight Coxless Four – Second
2012 London Olympic Games Lightweight Coxless Four – Fourth
2014 National Championship Lightweight Coxless Pair – First
2014 World Rowing Cup I Coxless Four – Sixth
2014 World Rowing Cup III Lightweight Coxless Four – Fifth
2014 World Rowing Championship Lightweight Coxless Four - Fifth
Jack Hargreaves
May 2025