Australia selects their best for 2014

Heading the list is Australia's star rower, Kim Crow. Crow, who is the current World Champion in the women's single sculls, was preselected for the team.  This didn't stop her from joining the speed trials that many of her teammates were enduring.

Crow will be joined by an adjusted men's four. The four finished second at the 2013 World Rowing Championships. This year, Fergus Pragnall will join Joshua Dunkley Smith, Alexander Lloyd and Spencer Turrin. Pragnall replaces William Lockwood who was moved into the men's eight.

The men's eight includes some weighty names including 2008 Olympic Champion from the men's double sculls, David Crawshay and James Chapman who, along with Lockwood, took silver at the London 2012 Olympic Games in the men's four.

Back in the men's single sculls is Nicholas Purnell. This is the second year in the single for Purnell who previously raced at the London Olympics in the men's eight. Purnell recently finished sixth when he raced at the World Rowing Cup in Sydney. He will be coached by Tim McLaren who returned to Australia after a stint as men's eight head coach for the United States.

Back on the national team after a year off is Kate Hornsey. She has been selected for the women's eight. Hornsey is one of the most medalled members of the team with two World Championship titles from 2005 in the women's eight and the women’s four. She also has international medals from the four and pair. Hornsey has competed at two Olympic Games, winning a silver medal in the pair at the London Olympics.  The women’s eight also includes Michelle Yann and Molly Goodman who are on the senior national team for the first time this year.

Winners of the women's double sculls at the World Rowing Cup in Sydney, Olympia Aldersey and Sally Kehoe, have remained in the double.

Missing from the list is John Linke. Linke was part of Australia's men's eight in 2011, but then a series of leg operations saw Linke go through lengthy rehabilitation. Linke documented his recovery in a  YouTube series titled 'Unsinkable' and did well enough to make the Australian team for the World Rowing Cup in Sydney. Linke will be the reserve for the men's quadruple sculls.  

The senior team includes a total of 16 crews and, depending on the crew, they will go to a mixture of the two upcoming World Cups and the World Rowing Championships. Following the third World Rowing Cup in Lucerne, selectors reserve the right to reassess the crews that will go to the 2014 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam (NED).

Full list: http://www.rowingaustralia.com.au/news_latest-news.shtm#five