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australian rowers profiles and history

Francis Hegerty

Sydney University Boat Club (NSW)

Francis Hegerty’s rowing journey began at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill, where he made his mark as a key member of the prestigious first VIII in his final two years. Though he didn’t capture the AAGPS Head of the River title, his crew achieved national glory in 2000, clinching the national championship. At St Joseph’s, Francis was a standout athlete, not only excelling in rowing but also playing in the first XV and earning a spot in the Australian Schoolboys rugby team. Despite rugby’s tempting allure, Francis chose to follow his true calling—rowing.

His decision paid off. After school, Francis joined the Sydney University Boat Club (SUBC), where he quickly proved his worth. 

In 2002, he won the Men’s Under-23 Coxless Pair at the Nationals and earned a coveted spot in the U23 Men’s Eight. The crew’s performance at the Second World Cup wasn’t what they had hoped for—finishing tenth—but they redeemed themselves at the Under-23 World Championships. They battled through the repechage to reach the A Final, where they narrowly missed the podium, finishing an agonizing fourth. But for Francis, this was only the beginning of his international journey.

In 2003, Francis added two more national titles to his growing list: the U23 Coxless Four and the Coxed Eight for SUBC. He was again selected for the U23 Men’s Eight, which raced at Senior World Cup 3, finishing ninth. At the Under-23 World Championships, the crew came through with a bronze medal, Francis’s first international medal, a moment that solidified his place on the global stage.

Francis’s path to greatness wasn’t without challenges. In 2006, he competed in the Men’s Coxless Four at World Cup 1, finishing fourteenth. Undeterred, he continued to race in the four throughout the year, achieving a solid eighth place at World Cup 2. The World Championships that year were particularly tough—the crew finished third in the C Final, just shy of the A/B semi-finals by a single second. It was a painful reminder of how close they were to the world’s best, but it only fuelled Francis’s determination.

In 2007, the crew returned to World Cup action, finishing ninth at World Cup 2 and eleventh at World Cup 3. At the World Championships, they ended up twelfth, on the cusp of Olympic qualification. They missed the Beijing Games, but Francis’s resolve remained unbroken. He knew that his moment would come.

And then came 2008—a breakthrough year. Francis won his first King’s Cup with New South Wales in a heart-stopping race, narrowly defeating Victoria. The victory was sweet, but even sweeter was his selection to the Olympic qualification squad. At the Second World Cup, the crew performed magnificently, winning the regatta, and Francis claimed his first senior international medal. With momentum on their side, they went on to the Final Qualification Regatta and secured a spot at the Beijing Olympics.

At the Beijing Games, the crew stunned the world. After winning their heat and finishing second to the British in the semi-final, they entered the final with fierce determination. The Australians led the British by two seconds at 1500m, but the British surged ahead to claim gold. Despite the heartbreaking finish, Francis and his crew had achieved something extraordinary: an Olympic silver medal. It was a testament to their grit, and they solidified their place among Australia’s finest crews. 

Francis celebrates with his crew after the Olympic Games Silver

The following year, at the 2009 World Championships in Poznan, they again finished behind the British to claim silver.

2010 brought new challenges. Francis returned to the Coxed Four for World Cup 2, finishing fourth behind another Australian crew. He then raced in the four at World Cup 3, placing fifth. But as always, Francis was ready for a change. Heading into the World Championships in New Zealand, he was moved into the Men’s Eight, joining forces with other members of the Australian four. The crew had to fight through the repechage, but in the final, they battled through brutal conditions to finish with a hard-earned bronze medal, just behind the British and Germans.

2011 was another remarkable year for Francis. He claimed his second King’s Cup victory in a blistering time of 5:21, cementing his legacy as one of Australia’s premier rowers. He was selected for the Men’s Eight, and the crew put together an impressive performance at World Cup 3, finishing seventh. At the World Championships, the Australian eight made the A Final, and with 250m to go, they were poised to claim bronze. But in a cruel twist, Canada surged past them in the final meters to steal the bronze. The Australians finished fourth—still an incredible achievement, but they were left with a bittersweet feeling. Still, the result was enough to qualify them for the 2012 London Olympics.

In 2012, Francis won his third King’s Cup with New South Wales and secured his place in the eight for the London Olympics.

2012 King's Cup win with Francis back row on the right

The crew raced through a challenging international season, finishing sixth in the A Final at World Cup 2 and earning silver at World Cup 3, the final regatta before the Olympics. At the London Games, the Australians gave their all in one of the most closely contested men’s eight finals in history. They finished sixth, just 0.6 seconds away from the medal podium. The heartbreak was palpable, but the crew had poured everything into the race, leaving no regrets.

2013 was Francis’s final year of competition. He raced in the King’s Cup one last time, claiming victory and bringing his total to an incredible four King’s Cup titles. With that, he hung up his oars and transitioned into a successful career in banking in Melbourne. He is now the head of Private Wealth at Ord Minnett.

Francis Hegerty was known not only for his immense talent but for his relentless training, unmatched work ethic, and mental fortitude. He was a true champion, whose career inspired those who followed in his wake. His passion for the sport, his dedication to excellence, and his leadership on and off the water have left a legacy in Australian rowing. His story is one of perseverance, triumph, and unyielding commitment.

Some rowing highlights

2000 National Championship Schoolboy Eight – First

2002 National Championship Under 23 Men’s Coxless Pair – First 

2002 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Eight - Tenth

2002 World Rowing Under 23 Championship Men’s Eight – Fourth 

2003 National Championship Under 23 Men’s Coxless Four – First

2003 National Championship Under 23 Men’s Eight – First 

2003 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Eight - Ninth

2003 World Rowing Under 23 Championship Men’s Eight – Third

2006 World Rowing Cup I Men’s Coxless Four – Fourteenth 

2006 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Coxless Four – Eighth 

2006 World Rowing Championship Men’s Coxless Four – Fifteenth 

2007 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Coxless Four - Ninth

2007 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Coxless Four – Eleventh 

2007 World Rowing Championship Men’s Coxless Four – Twelfth 

2008 National Championship Men’s Coxed Four – First 

2008 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First

2008 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Coxless Four – First

2008 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta Men’s Coxless Four – First

2008 Beijing Olympic Games Men’s Coxless Four – Second

2009 World Rowing Championship Men’s Coxless Four – Second

2010 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Coxless Four – Fourth 

2010 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Coxless Four – Fifth 

2010 World Rowing Championship Men’s Eight – Third 

2011 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First

2011 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Eight – Seventh 

2011 World Rowing Championship Men’s Eight – Fourth

2012 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First

2012 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Eight – Sixth

2012 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Eight – Second 

2012 London Olympic Games Men’s Eight – Sixth 

2013 National Championship Interstate Men’s Eight – First

Jack Hargreaves
January 2025

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