Of the 13 international athletes on the Texas Women’s Rowgh team, four are about 9,289 miles from their home country of Australia.
In Australia, rowing is one of the most popular sports, especially in private and boarding schools.
“It was known as something to do, and everyone wanted to try it,” said Lucy Searle, a sophomore from Orange, Australia.
Searle and sophomore Phoebe Robinson had to choose sports at a private Australian school, and both chose a line. Thurl competed throughout high school, but Robinson needs to learn how to row early in Brisbane, Australia.
“Specifically, at my school, I was forced to jabbed row in the eighth grade. “I think it’s like a creek. It’s a very large group that took place in Australia.”
Robinson’s early revelation to rowing led her to many achievements before moving to Texas. She won bronze in the Coxless 4 at the Under-23 World Championships in 2023 and gold in the Australian Women’s 8 as Secretary of Shanghai in 2023.
However, Australia’s row-gear culture and technology are not exactly the same as American culture.
Both countries are very competitive in sports, but rowing remains team-based in Australia as coaches prioritize athlete knowledge in multiple positions in the Racing Shell.
“They put you in everything, they’re similar in the way they want to win your school,” Robinson said.
In comparison, American rowers tend to concentrate on singular positions, competing in larger boats than those commonly used in Australia.
“When we come in and race internationally, it takes a little time to adapt to the 8 and all the races,” Searle said. “(In Australia) they really focus on technique and Australian rhythm.”
When Robinson and Searle pursued rowfish in Texas, they left no Australian rowfish culture.
“It was amazing to see other Australians on the team,” Robinson said. “We really didn’t know each other before we got in, but now they’re all joined together and they’re really close.”
With the average flight from Austin to Australia closed for 19 hours, the decision to become the Texas Longhorns was significant. In Robinson’s case, her teammate character sold her in Texas.
“In the actual decision to choose Texas, it was entirely a team,” Robinson said. “Meeting all the girls (director Dave O’Neill) adopted (and saw them) made this decision very easy.”
With three national championships and athletes who share the same values and goals, Texas Rowing is home to a diverse group of women who emphasize the team’s unique culture.
“Team culture is one of the things that make this team,” Searle said. “We love having a large international team. We can get to know many people around the world.”
