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australian rowers profiles and history

David Watts

Swan River Rowing Club (WA)

David Watts was born in England and later moved to Perth, Western Australia. As a child, he was a successful state swimmer and a member of a teenage squad that swam across the challenging English Channel, establishing himself as a determined young athlete at the age of 13. He transitioned to rowing after being identified as a talented athlete by the Western Australian Institute of Sport's Talent Identification Program.

His first major success came in 2008 when he won the U19 coxless four at nationals, earning selection to the Australian junior team. That year, he finished fourth in the A final of the coxless four at the World Junior Championships.

In 2009, David had an extremely successful season in Australia, winning the Under 19 Men’s Single Scull, Double Scull, and Quad Scull, as well as the Schoolboy Single. Despite these achievements, he chose not to travel or try for the Australian team that year. However, at the 2010 Nationals, David regained his titles in the Under 19 Double and Quad Sculls. He also attended trials for the junior team, where he was selected for the junior men coxed four. At the World Junior Championships, the crew finished second in both the heat and semi-final, and in the A final, David and the coxed four secured a bronze medal. Later that year, David competed at the Youth Olympics, winning a silver medal in the men’s pair alongside fellow WA rower Mathew Cochran.

2010 World Junior Championships with David in three seat - Photographer Peter Spurrier

After taking a year off in 2011, David returned to competition in 2012. At the Nationals, he won the Under 23 Coxless Four, which helped him gain selection in the Australian Under 23 Men’s Eight. The crew went on to race at the Under 23 World Championships, where they won a bronze medal, marking Australia’s first medal in the event in over five years.

In 2013, David transitioned to sculling and raced his first senior event in the men’s single at World Cup 1, finishing in fifth place. He continued to focus on sculling in 2014, winning the Under 23 Men’s Single Scull at Nationals and earning his first senior medal in the quad scull at World Cup 1. He also raced in the men’s eight, finishing fourth at that event. Later that year, David competed in the Under 23 Double Scull at World Cup 3 and placed 16th before heading to the Under 23 World Championships, where he narrowly missed the A final and finished seventh in the B final.

At the 2015 Nationals, David won the Open Quad Scull and was selected to stroke the senior quad for the international season. The crew placed fifth at World Cup 2, and after significant improvement, they went on to win a silver medal at the World Championships, qualifying the boat for the Rio Olympics.

In 2016, an Olympic year, David won the Open Double Scull and Men’s Quad at Nationals and was selected for the men’s double for the international season. At World Cup 2, he finished 11th and 8th at World Cup 3 before heading to the Rio Olympics. After a tough semi-final, the double raced the B final, finishing the regatta in 7th place but winning the B final in fine form.

2016 Olympic Games, David in bow seat

David acknowledging supporters after the B final

In 2017, David retained his national title in the Men’s Open Quad Scull and was then selected for the Double Scull. During the World Cup season, the double placed 4th and 10th before the World Championships. There, the crew had a tough race in the repechage and ended up in the C final, finishing 17th overall.

In 2018, David added another national title in the Men’s Double Scull and was selected for the Australian Quad Scull. At World Cup 2 and 3, the quad finished 4th and 5th, respectively. At the World Championships, the quad had a strong performance, winning the repechage and finishing with their best race in the final. The crew, which was in sixth place with 500 meters to go, surged in the final stretch to claim a well-deserved silver medal.

David was selected for the men’s quad again in 2019, and the crew maintained their strong form, winning a silver at World Cup 2 and finishing 4th at World Cup 3. At the World Championships, the quad placed 4th in the A final, narrowly missing out on qualification for the Tokyo Olympics.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Olympics were postponed to 2021. David won the Double Scull at the Nationals that year and was selected to compete in the Final Olympic Qualification Regatta. The double needed a top two finish to qualify for Tokyo, but despite a strong start, they ultimately finished in third place, missing out on the Olympic Games.

Throughout his career, David demonstrated immense talent, dedication, and resilience, earning recognition as both a fierce competitor and a committed trainer.

Some rowing highlights

2008 National Championship Under 19 Coxless Four – First

2008 World Rowing Junior Championships Coxless Four – Fourth

2009 National Championship Under 19 Men’s Single Scull – First

2009 National Championship Under 19 Men's Quad Scull – First

2009 National Championship Under 19 Men's Double Scull – First

2009 National Championship Schoolboy Single Scull – First

2010 National Championship Under 19 Men's Quad Scull – First

2010 National Championship Under 19 Men's Double Scull – First

2010 World Rowing Junior Championships Men’s Coxed Four – Third

2010 Youth Olympic Games Men’s Pair – Second

2012 National Championship Under 23 Men’s Coxless Four – First

2012 World Rowing Under 23 Championships Men’s Eight – Third

2013 World Rowing Cup I Men’s Single Scull – Fifth

2014 National Championship Under 23 Men's Single Scull - First

2014 World Rowing Cup I Men’s Quadruple Sculls – Third

2014 World Rowing Cup I Men’s Eight – Fourth

2014 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Double Scull – Sixteenth

2014 World Rowing Under 23 Championships Men’s Double Scull – Seventh

2015 National Championship Open Men’s Quadruple Scull – First

2015 World Rowing Cup II Men's Quadruple Sculls – Fifth

2015 World Rowing Championships Men's Quadruple Sculls – Second

2016 National Championship Open Men’s Double Scull – First

2016 National Championship Open Men’s Quadruple Scull – First

2016 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Double Scull – Eleventh

2016 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Double Scull – Eighth

2016 Rio Olympic Games Men’s Double Scull – Seventh

2017 National Championship Open Men’s Quadruple Scull – First

2017 World Rowing Cup II Men’s Double Scull – Fourth

2017 World Rowing Cup III Men’s Double Scull – Tenth

2017 World Rowing Championships Men’s Double Scull – Seventeenth

2018 National Championships Open Men’s Double Scull – First

2018 World Rowing Cup II Men's Quadruple Sculls – Fourth

2018 World Rowing Cup III Men's Quadruple Sculls – Fifth

2018 World Rowing Championship Men's Quadruple Sculls – Second

2019 World Rowing Cup II Men's Quadruple Sculls – Second

2019 World Rowing Cup III Men's Quadruple Sculls – Fourth

2019 World Rowing Championship Men's Quadruple Sculls – Fourth

2021 National Championships Open Men’s Double Scull – First

2021 World Rowing Final Olympic Qualification Regatta Men’s Double Scull – Third

Jack Hargreaves
January 2025

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