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Nhill’s Lucy Stephan is a confirmed starter in an Australian rowing team of 38 preparing to jet off to Japan for the Tokyo Olympics.

The Australian Olympic Committee confirmed Stephan was in the team, which features nine qualified boats, 29 debutants, eight athletes returning for their second Olympic Games and Joshua Booth returning for his third games.

Stephan is one of the returning athletes, having competed in an 11th-hour qualification for Rio in 2016 as part of an Australian women’s eight crew. The crew valiantly tried but failed to make the final with only two weeks of preparation.

Stephan has since become a prominent international medal-winning rower competing in Australian Women’s Fours events.

The overall Australian Olympic rowing team has competitors boasting more than 125 World Rowing Cup medals and three Olympic silver medals.

Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman welcomed the rowers to the Australian Olympic Team.

“Australia has such a rich Olympic legacy in rowing and these athletes should be very proud that they will continue to build on this outstanding tradition,” he said.

“We will have one of the biggest rowing teams of any country, with 38 athletes from nine qualified boats showing the depth and class of Australian rowing.

“Today is also a great moment for the families, friends, supporters, coaches and support staff who have helped these athletes realise their Olympic dream in Tokyo.

“The selection to the Australian Olympic Team is a proud moment for all our athletes, it reflects their hard work, resilience and determination to succeed in our sport of rowing.

“We’re thrilled to have nine boats representing Australia at the Tokyo Olympics, including six sweep boats and three sculling crews and we are looking forward to seeing them line up on the start line at Tokyo Bay to chase their Olympic dreams.

“Those dreams would not be possible without the support our athletes have received along their journey to the Games. It has taken a collective of family, friends, coaches, schools, clubs and more to get them to this point and on behalf of Rowing Australia, I’d like to thank them all for helping our rowers on their pathway to Tokyo.”

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