Luke Letcher
Black Mountain Rowing Club (ACT)
Luke Letcher, from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT), has become one of Australia’s most accomplished and versatile rowers, with a career defined by consistent performance and notable achievements across multiple boat classes. Specializing in the Single Scull, Double Scull, and Quad Scull, Letcher has earned National Championship titles, competed at the highest international levels, and made a significant impact on the world stage. While his Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games experience marked a standout moment with a bronze medal in the Quad Scull, Letcher's path to success is marked by a long journey of dedication and perseverance.
Luke Letcher’s rowing career began in earnest in 2012, when he showcased his potential in the Under 19 category. At the National Championships, he won gold in both the Single Scull and the Quad Scull, setting the tone for a future filled with success. Later that year, he competed at the World Rowing Junior Championships in the Quad Scull, where his team placed 16th, offering valuable lessons for his future competitions.
Luke as winner of the Australian Championships Under 19 Scull in 2012
Photo from the Guerin collection
By 2014, Letcher had firmly established himself in the Under 23 category. That year, he claimed National Championship titles in both the Under 23 Double Scull and the Under 23 Quad Scull, showing his dominance in both individual and team events. At the World Rowing Under 23 Championships, he competed in the Single Scull, where he finished 16th. Although this result was not what he had hoped for, it fueled his drive to refine his technique and continue to grow as an athlete.
Letcher’s results in 2015 further cemented his status as one of Australia’s top young rowers. He won National Championships in the Under 23 Single Scull, Under 23 Double Scull, and Under 23 Quad Scull, proving his versatility across multiple boat classes. At the World Rowing Under 23 Championships, he and his partner finished 10th in the Double Scull, a respectable result in a highly competitive field.
The year 2016 was a turning point in Letcher’s career, as he not only continued to dominate domestically but also earned international recognition. He won National Championship titles in the Under 23 Double Scull, Quad Scull, and Single Scull. However, it was at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships where Letcher truly shone, leading his crew to a gold medal in the Quad Scull, marking a high point in his career thus far.
Luke in the three seat of the 2016 winning quad scull at the World Under 23 Championships
Photo courtesy of Rowing Australia
In 2017, Letcher’s focus shifted to the Open Men’s category, where he earned his first National Championship title in the Open Quad Scull. He also competed at the World Rowing Cups, finishing 4th in the Double Scull at World Rowing Cup II and 10th at World Rowing Cup III. Letcher’s experience at the World Rowing Championships in the Double Scull resulted in a 17th place finish, further sharpening his competitive edge.
Letcher’s success continued into 2018, where he earned multiple top finishes in the World Rowing Cup II in the Quad Scull, securing 4th and 5th place finishes. At the World Rowing Championships in the Single Scull, he finished in 19th place, a result that reflected the fierce competition at the top of the field and provided Letcher with further insight into what he needed to achieve in the years ahead.
The 2019 season saw mixed results for Letcher. While he finished 19th at World Rowing Cup II in the Double Scull and 6th in the Men’s Eight at World Rowing Cup III, these experiences contributed to his growth as a rower and prepared him for the challenges that lay ahead. Though his results were not always podium finishes, Letcher’s consistent effort and focus on improvement never wavered.
The pinnacle of Luke Letcher’s career came at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Competing in the Quad Scull, Letcher and his Australian teammates put together a stellar performance that earned them the bronze medal. This historic achievement not only brought immense pride to Letcher and his teammates but also solidified his place as one of Australia’s top rowers. It was the culmination of years of dedication, hard work, and international competition, and Letcher’s Olympic success added a shining chapter to the history of Australian rowing.
On the podium in Tokyo with Luke on the right hand side
Photo courtesy of Rowing Australia
Luke Letcher’s career is a testament to his dedication, adaptability, and growth as an athlete. From his early years dominating the Under 19 and Under 23 categories to his rise through the ranks of Open Men’s rowing, Letcher has proven time and again that he has the skill and determination to compete at the highest levels. His Tokyo 2020 Olympic bronze medal in the Quad Scull is the highlight of his career, but his earlier successes at the National Championships and World Rowing Under 23 Championships have built the foundation for his remarkable achievements.
Letcher’s journey through the ranks of Australian rowing, with his multiple National Championship victories and World Cup performances, serves as an inspiration to aspiring athletes.
At the time of writing this profile, Luke has used his leadership skills to good effect taking on the role of Chair of the Rowing Australia Athletes Commission with a seat at the Rowing Australia Board.
Some rowing highlights
2012 National Championship Under 19 Single Scull – First
2012 National Championship Under 19 Quad Scull – First
2012 World Rowing Junior Championship Quad Scull – Sixteenth
2014 National Championship Under 23 Double Scull – First
2014 National Championship Under 23 Quad Scull – First
2014 World Rowing Under 23 Championship Single Scull – Sixteenth
2015 National Championship Under 23 Single Scull – First
2015 National Championship Under 23 Double Scull – First
2015 National Championship Under 23 Quad Scull – First
2015 World Rowing Under 23 Championship Double Scull – Tenth
2016 National Championship Under 23 Double Scull – First
2016 National Championship Quad Scull – First
2016 World Rowing Under 23 Championship Quad Scull – First
2017 National Championship Open Quad Scull – First
2017 World Rowing Cup II Double Scull – Fourth
2017 World Rowing Cup III Double Scull – Tenth
2017 World Rowing Championship Double Scull – Seventeenth
2018 World Rowing Cup II Quad Scull – Fourth
2018 World Rowing Cup II Quad Scull – Fifth
2018 World Rowing Championship Single Scull – Nineteenth
2019 World Rowing Cup II Double Scull – Nineteenth
2019 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Eight – Sixth
2021 National Championship Quad Scull – First
2021 Tokyo Olympic Games Quad Scull – Third
Jack Hargreaves
May 2025