DERWENT Valley-raised rower Anneka Reardon has been selected in the Australian Rowing Team.
Born and raised in Plenty, Reardon, 24, blitzed the nationals in Victoria last month, winning three gold and two silver medals.
The former St Bridget’s Catholic School student took up rowing at 14 and for eight years was trained by her father, Mick Reardon.
During this time she won many Tasmanian state championships, was the Tasmanian junior oarswomen of the year in 2015, and stroked the Tasmania youth eight two years in a row.
“During this time she studied full time at school, worked at the Salmon Ponds and then when she finished school undertook the fast track nursing degree at UTAS,’’ proud mum Monique Reardon said.
“When she graduated as a registered nurse she worked in the Emergency Department at the Royal Hobart Hospital full time while trying to juggle training.
“Towards the end of 2019 she decided to prioritise rowing and moved to Canberra to join her sister Lilli who was rowing at the Australian National University Boat Club with her coach Nigel Harding and his team.
“Nigel has been responsible for her success since moving to Canberra.’’
In Canberra the elite athlete juggled working in the emergency department at the Canberra Hospital while also dedicating herself to an elite training program.
“It has not been plain sailing with Covid adding disruptions to training schedules with boat shed and gym closures, bush fires causing problems with air quality in Canberra and just late last year being hit by a car while on a training ride,’’ Mrs Reardon said.
“These obstacles only made Anneka more determined and she has now achieved her long-held dream of representing Australia, recently being selected in the lightweight double scull with Lucy Coleman (NSW) to compete in the World Cup series in June and July in Poland and Switzerland as a precursor to the World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic in September 2022.
“This will require Anneka to make another move to Penrith, Sydney to join the National Training Centre.
“It will be Anneka’s first trip overseas and a huge opportunity to represent Australia.’’