October 2018 : Spencer Turrin (AUS)

Athlete of the Month – October 2018

Twenty-seven-year-old Australian rower Spencer Turrin is now a two-time World Champion after winning his second gold at the 2018 World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv.  The Aussie four has become the crew to beat – cleaning up at every World Cup they’ve entered since last year.

World Rowing: How does it feel to have won World Championship gold again?
Spencer Turrin: It’s a sense of relief that all the hard work has paid off and been worthwhile.

WR: What about the race itself – how does that compare to last year’s?
ST: It wasn’t the greatest race for us.  We weren’t nailing the small things quite as well as we had in other races but did what we needed to do

WR: What have you been doing since the World Championships?
ST: I’ve had a few weeks off just relaxing on holiday

WR: How did you first get into rowing and what keeps you coming back?
ST: I first started rowing at school, at St Joseph’s College.  What really keeps me in it is the environment at Sydney Rowing Club and all the mates that you get to hang out with day, in day out.

WR: What is your role in the four?
ST: Just to make the calls and try not to slow the others down too much.

WR: What do you find the biggest challenge in rowing?
ST: The biggest challenge for me is the training.

WR: What is the best reward it brings?
ST: My life membership at Sydney Rowing Club.

WR: What is your next big goal and how will you get there?
ST: To win back Australia’s New South Wales state rowing championship eight and to retain the New South Wales Kings Cup.

WR: What will you do over the international rowing off-season?
ST: Try to enjoy myself and we’re back training in Canberra.

WR: Who inspires you?
ST: Angus Moore (Australian rower)

WR: What do you do for fun?
ST: Head to Hopscotch