"You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."
Sporting Highlights:
Mhairi mcdonald
Rowing
Shire:
Southern Grampians Shire
Current Club:
Hamilton Rowing Club
Coach(es):
Geoff Forsyth
Most Admired Athlete:
Hannah Every-Hall
State Championships
2026 U17 single scull- Silver
2026 Year 10 div 1 double scull-Silver
2026 B grade double scull-Gold
2026 Head of the schoolgirl's year 9 div 1 single scull-Silver
2025U15 single scull-Silver
2025 U15 double-Silver
"The SWAS-APEX program has helped me a lot throughout my first year by helping me to understand and learn about the sport itself. Not just the physical side of things, but also the things like taking care of yourself before, during and after a competition. The program has also given me great opportunities such as going to the VIS and getting an amazing experience of what it's like to be a high level athlete. The program has also given me an opportunity to see how I can take my sporting abilities to the next level."
- Mhairi McDonald, 2026
A Bit About Me
I started rowing when I was in year seven. I started rowing in quads with my friends from school, throughout our first season we lost quite few races, however, that only gave us the motivation to commit and train harder. With that mindset we started to place in more races.
Later in the same season I rowed at my first state championship, where I also rowed my first single. From that regatta I came home with two silver medals from both the U15 single scull and U15 double scull.
A couple of weeks after state I rowed a single at head of the schoolgirls in Geelong, rowing in the year above. I made it through to the B final, I rowed well throughout the race, I was out Infront and about to win, but in the last 20 or so meters I clipped my oar against one of the buoys in my lane and capsized my boat, coming back with a heartbreaking loss. Although that was devastating, it only made more determined to do better. In 2026 I ended my second season well with 3 state medals and a medal from head of schoolgirls. The thing I love most about rowing is the friendships I make with not only people in my year level, but with others in year levels above me, and rowers from different clubs and schools as well.
Help Support Mhairi
Through personal sponsorship opportunities.