2025 Queensland State Championships – Women’s U21 Single Scull Preview

The championship U21 women’s single scull event at the Queensland State Championships ignites a fire of competition to entertain athletes and spectators alike. Heats are set to take place at the 2000m course at Queensland State Rowing Centre (QSRC)at 7:10am Friday, and the temperamental course isseemingly calm for this crucial round of racing.

The Contenders

University of Qld – Queensland Academy Of Sport – Astrid Thomas

This athlete is one for the ages. Astrid Thomas has made a name for herself before even leaving high school, with world open-water championship medals already secured via a silver in the U19 mixed double sculls and bronze in the U19 women’s solo in Genova, Italy, alongside receiving Australia’s Beach Sprint Crew of the Year Award. She brings international-level racing to this state regatta. On her home turf, Thomas went almost undefeated in her last school season. In 2024, she took third in both championship U19 women’s single sculls and championship U19 women’s coxless four at the Australian Rowing Championships 2024 (ARC24) and played a crucial role in the Queensland Interstate women’s youth eight which took home the gold. On the Wyaralong course, in every scull race Thomas has competed in, she has won by boat lengths; her latest win on this course was at the BSRA Head of The River in the schoolgirl’s year 12 single scull. After she graduates from Brisbane Girls Grammar School last year, Thomas will be joining Stanford University. Thomas seems like a sure thing at this regatta with her lengthy track record.

YouFor2032 – Hannah Johansson

Hannah Johansson is an athlete newer to the higher-level racing scene. Having been picked up by the YouFor2032 campaign which started at the beginning of 2023 in the hope of unearthing Queensland’s talent for the 2032 Olympic Games, she has really shown development of her racing through various results. She was fourth in the schoolgirl year 11 single scull in the 2024 South Queensland Schools’ Regatta and she placed first in the year 11 schoolgirl single sculls at the Queensland Schools’ Championship Regatta.

University of Qld – Gabrielle Ryan

Gabrielle Ryan is another athlete that has gained valuable experience on the lake through her school racing. She began her school season at the BSRA Head of The River, placing second as well as taking a seat in the undefeatable All Hallows’ first eight. At the Queensland Schools’ Championship Regatta, Ryan again took home silver in the scull against the aforementioned Hannah Johansson. With her wealth of experience on the Queensland course, she should know how to handle herself on the ever-changing waters.

Townsville JCU – Courtney Davis

Davis is an out-of-town prospect that clearly knows how to step up. She rows for The Cathedral School in Townsville for the school season, where she went undefeated in the schoolgirls single scull, and taking the final win at the Townsville All Schools’ Head of The River. She continued to Wyaralong’s South Championship Schools’ Regatta and Queensland Schools’ Championship Regatta, where she took home third and first respectively in the schoolgirls single scull. Davis may have something up her sleeve come this regatta, to put her into contention for a podium.

Rockhampton Fitzroy – Georgia Brennan

There haven’t been many races for Georgia Brennan, but by examining the contests that she has been a part of, it starts to become apparent that she will be competitive. Last year at the 2024 Queensland State Championships, Brennan placed a respectable eighth in the championship U19 women’s single sculls. Later in the year, Brennan received a seat in the Capricornia Inter-regional schoolgirl quad, placing second and at the same regatta also finished fourth in the championship schoolgirl single scull. If she’s been continuing to increase her speed, she may be close to a podium this time around.

Prediction

This event is set to demonstrate the true talent within the state. The home-grown talent of University of Qld’s Astrid Thomas gives her an edge as the favourite for gold. The upcoming athlete hand-picked by the YouFor2032 committee, Hannah Johansson, has the chance to keep proving her worth to the State, whilst another University of Qld athlete Gabrielle Ryan will put on a show of determination with her previous successes in the school regattas.

Predicted Podium:

Uni of Qld – Astrid Thomas

YouFor2032 – Hannah Johansson

Uni of Qld – Gabrielle Ryan

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