#Rio2016 | WA Rowers Confirmed for Olympic Debut
Western Australians Rhys Grant and David Watts have today been officially named on the Australian Rowing Team for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Both men will make their Olympic debut in Brazil, as members of Australia’s 20-strong rowing squad, comprising eight boats.
29 year-old Grant will become Western Australia’s first Olympic representative in the men’s single scull whilst Watts, at 24 years of age, will combine with Adelaide born athlete Chris Morgan in the men’s double scull.
Grant qualified Australia’s berth in the single scull at May’s qualification regatta in Lucerne, when he finished second in a strong field to all but secure his own selection fate with it.
The qualified civil engineer is nicknamed Mr President, on account of having twice won the President’s Cup, which is awarded to the winner of men’s single scull at the national championships, with his most recent title earned in March of this year.
Watts in 2015 won a silver medal as a member of the Australian men’s quad scull at the World Championships in France. He was born in England, but moved to Perth as a toddler and holds a passion for photography outside of his rowing pursuits.
On path to Olympic selection, Watts earned medals at both World U23 and Youth Olympic level, whilst as a 13 year-old secondary school student, was part of a successful team of six that swam the English Channel.
Following the rowing selections for the Australian Olympic Team, the Australian squad for Rio now includes 28 Western Australian athletes.
NOTE* Men’s Water Polo athlete James Stanton-French has formally requested to be acknowledged as a Western Australian representative. He had previously been announced as member of Victoria.
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