30 Facts About Grace Prendergast

Grace Elizabeth Prendergast was born on 30 June 1992 and is a former New Zealand sweep rower.

Grace Prendergast is a 15-time national champion in the premier category, an Olympic champion, a five-time world champion and the current world champion in the coxless pair.

Grace Prendergast grew up in Christchurch, where she started rowing for the Avon Rowing Club in 2007.

Grace Prendergast competed at the Tokyo Olympics in two boat classes and won gold in the coxless pair and a silver in the eight and set a new world's best time in the pair.

Grace Prendergast was the highest ranked female rower in the world twice in a row in 2019 and 2021.

Grace Prendergast attended Villa Maria College, where she started rowing in 2007.

Grace Prendergast studied at Massey University and graduated first with a bachelor and then a master's in business studies, and is currently studying at Queens' College, Cambridge.

Grace Prendergast started rowing for Villa Maria College in 2007 and, due to the school's affiliation, joined the Avon Rowing Club after she left school.

Once she was a member of Avon, Grace Prendergast first competed at the New Zealand rowing championships in 2011, when they were held on Lake Ruataniwha.

Grace Prendergast competed in two U21 boat classes and one premier boat class and won gold in all three events.

At the February 2012 New Zealand rowing championships held on Lake Karapiro, Grace Prendergast competed in four boat classes.

Grace Prendergast won gold with the U21 coxless four, and silver with the U21 pair and U21 quad scull.

At the February 2013 New Zealand rowing championships, Grace Prendergast competed in three premier boat classes, gaining one silver medal and two national championships.

Grace Prendergast was picked for the New Zealand elite team to compete in the eight.

At the February 2014 New Zealand rowing championships, Grace Prendergast competed in one U22 and three premier boat classes.

Grace Prendergast travelled with a New Zealand squad to the 2014 World Rowing Cup III at the Rotsee, where she won a silver medal in the coxless pair with Gowler.

At the February 2015 New Zealand rowing championships, Grace Prendergast competed in two premier boat classes and took out two national titles.

Grace Prendergast defended her title in the eight for a fifth year and won gold in the coxless pair partnered with Kristen Froude.

At the February 2016 New Zealand rowing championships, Grace Prendergast competed in three premier boat classes and won one national title.

Grace Prendergast lost her title in the eight as the boat came second.

Grace Prendergast won national titles in the coxless four and the eight.

Gowler and Grace Prendergast were reconfirmed for the women's pair in April 2019.

At the 2020 New Zealand rowing nationals at Lake Karapiro, Grace Prendergast competed in two boat classes.

Two weeks later at the 2021 New Zealand rowing nationals at Lake Ruataniwha, Grace Prendergast competed in three boat classes.

In 2022, Grace Prendergast rowed in the 7-seat of the Cambridge women's eight in the 2022 Boat Race, a crew which went on to win in a record time of 18 minutes and 22 seconds.

Grace Prendergast announced her retirement from professional rowing on 27 October 2022.

Grace Prendergast last competed at the national championships in 2021.

Grace Prendergast was first included in the list in 2018 ranked in sixth place, with Gowler in ninth place.

In 2019, Grace Prendergast was the highest-ranked female rower in the world, with Gowler in second place.

At the 2020 Sport Canterbury Awards, Grace Prendergast won the Supreme Sportsperson of the Year title, breaking shot putter Tom Walsh's dominance.