Rowing
The rowing experience of a lifetime awaits
Imagine you and your crew mates powering down Melbourne’s Yarra River in the early sunshine as the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Rod Laver Arena stand tall on the horizon… Welcome to your morning training session on a Sport Lived rowing gap year in Australia! Top-level coaching, awesome facilities and world-class rowers await. So what are you waiting for?
Mini Season in Australia
Get a taste of Aussie life with our Mini Season rowing programme. Spend part of the season with a local rowing club.
Full Season in Australia
Get the full, undiluted Aussie rowing experience! Train, compete and party all season long with a top rowing club.
Coach in Australia
This is a great chance to pass on your knowledge and enthusiasm to junior rowers in Australia. You'll earn money and gain loads of experience working with a crew of mini Aussies.
Your chance to show the Aussies how it’s done!
Our rowing programmes give you a truly unique opportunity to take your rowing to the next level – you could even find yourself competing at the state or national championships! Whether you opt for a full season, mini season or coaching you’ll get a taste of Australia’s renowned sporting lifestyle, living, rowing and socialising with people who love the sport as much as you do. It’s a fantastic adventure that will challenge you, develop your skills, and give you unforgettable memories to treasure.
Whether you’re hoping to pursue a career in sport or just following your passion for rowing, a Sport Lived programme in Australia will give you valuable experience for the future. The teamwork, commitment and determination that you develop coaching or training alongside some of Melbourne’s best rowers will be a valuable addition to your CV.
- Add an extra dimension to your CV
- Immerse yourself in a brand-new culture
- Build valuable skills for your future
- Challenge yourself with new experiences
Our programmes have inspired the best.
Here are a few of our success stories.
Daisy Butterworth
“My rowing club did nothing but challenge me, support me and make me into a better rower”
Daisy rowed for England as a junior, winning two gold medals at the Home International regatta and raced for GB in the World Junior Rowing Championships in 2018. On her gap year she enrolled on a Sport Lived rowing programme in Melbourne. Daisy is currently studying at Southern Methodist University in Texas where she rows for the SMU Varsity 8 which was named American Athletic Conference Women’s Rowing Boat of the Year 2021, as voted by the league’s head coaches.
Will Kalikman
“My time in Melbourne was great for my development as an athlete and as an individual.”
As a junior, Will enjoyed a successful career rowing at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire, and Oakland Strokes, in his home state of California. His Oakland Strokes 8 finished 3rd in the U19 category at the US National Championships. He took part in a rowing gap year with Sport Lived in Melbourne, before enrolling as a student-athlete at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where he is a member of the Men’s Heavyweight Rowing team and has medalled in both the Eastern Sprints championship and the IRA national championship.
Hugo van de Graaf
“My time rowing in Australia was incredible and truly helped shape the person I am today!”
After rowing for Switzerland in both European and World Championships as a junior, Hugo took a gap year to row in Australia with Sport Lived in preparation for studying and rowing at UC Berkeley in California. After graduating with a degree in Data Science, Hugo now lives in London and works as a Graduate Actuarial Analyst at Gallagher Re.
George Nash
“It was an amazing few months and I’d thoroughly recommended Sport Lived to anyone who loves sport”
George took part in a Sport Lived rowing programme in Melbourne before studying mechanical engineering at Cambridge University, where he was part of the victorious Cambridge crew in the 2010 Boat Race. He rowed for Great Britain at the London 2012 Olympics, winning a bronze medal in the men's pair with Will Satch. After three successive World Championship golds, George then represented Great Britain in the 2016 Olympics, winning a gold medal with the men's coxless four. Now retired from professional rowing, George works as a technical director for engineering company Kinetrol.
Milivoj Vagic
“Spending 6 months in Australia, coaching rowing and living with fellow athletes was incredible.”
As a junior GB international rower & Captain of Latymer Upper School Boat Club, Milivoj wanted to pursue his sport during his gap year. He enrolled in a Sport Lived rowing programme in Melbourne and also coached rowing at a local high school during his stay. Milivoj went on to study and row at UC Berkeley, winning 6 silver medals & competing in National Championships every year during his degree. Since graduating Milivoj has worked in cyber security in London and also volunteered with a foundation in India.
Handpicked clubs.
Unique programmes.
An unmatched sporting experience awaits.
Develop your passion for sport overseas
We don’t like to blow our own trumpet, but we offer trips that no one else can match. We handpick the best club for you based on your playing career to date and the type of programme you’re looking to undertake.
