Star Physio at the 2026 Australian Rowing Championships. Physiotherapy Supporting National Champions

Star Physio’s Damian Oldmeadow at Lake Barrington, Tasmania

Physiotherapy Support at the Australian Rowing Championships 2026

March 2026 saw Damian Oldmeadow travel to Tasmania to support athletes with Australian Rowing Championship Physiotherapy.

Working closely with rowers from UWA and Shenton College, it was a highly successful regatta, with Star Physio patients achieving outstanding results at national level.

Of even more significance was the very low injury count across the championship for Star Physio clients. This highlights our approach of early identification, correct diagnosis and early management. We have seen this successfully over many years with our work with other sports including our amazing screening program with Volleyball WA.

This performance highlights the impact of high-quality physiotherapy support in rowing performance and injury management working closely with an exceptional coaching staff.

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Gold Medal Performances Across Multiple Crews

U21 Women’s Pair Rowing Champions with coach Roly from UWA

Star Physio-supported athletes featured in national championship winning boats, including:

• Open Lightweight Women’s 8+ – Gold Medal
• Under 23 Lightweight Women’s Double Scull – Gold Medal
• Under 23 Lightweight Women’s Quad Scull – Gold Medal
• Under 21 Women’s Pair – Gold Medal

These results reflect the importance of consistent training, injury prevention, and performance-focused physiotherapy throughout the rowing season.

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Bicentennial Cup Victory – A Standout Moment

Bicentennial Cup. WA Winners 2026

The highlight of the regatta came with the Western Australian Youth Women’s 8+ winning the Bicentennial Cup.

This event is one of the most prestigious youth races in Australian rowing, showcasing the next generation of elite athletes. The victory represents a major achievement for Western Australian rowing and the programs supporting these athletes.

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The Role of Physiotherapy in Rowing Performance

Rowing is a demanding, repetitive sport that places high loads on the body.

Common challenges include:

• Lower back pain from sustained flexion and load
• Rib stress injuries
• Hip mobility restrictions
• Tendon overload
• Fatigue management across high training volumes

At Star Physio, our approach to rowing physiotherapy focuses on:

• Movement and biomechanical assessment
• Strength and conditioning integration
• Load management across water and erg training
• Injury prevention and early intervention
• Performance optimisation for racing
• Close working relationship with coaches (and parents!)

This allows rowers to train consistently and perform at their peak during key competitions.

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Supporting Rowers from School to National Level

Shenton College rowers and coaches at Australian Rowing Championships

Working with programs such as UWA and Shenton College, as well as rowers from Scotch College, PLC, Guildford Grammar, Aquinas College, Christchurch and more highlights the pathway from school rowing through to national competition.

Star Physio supports:

• School rowing programs
• University athletes
• National pathway rowers
• Masters and recreational rowers

This experience ensures our team understands the demands of training cycles, racing schedules, and performance expectations at every level.

Building Rowing Performance Through Expert Physiotherapy

Success at events like the Australian Rowing Championships is built on more than talent alone.

It requires:

• Consistent training without interruption
• Effective injury management
• Strong physical preparation
• Attention to technique and movement quality

Our role is to help athletes stay healthy, train harder, and perform when it matters most.

Rowing Physiotherapy in Perth

Beautiful Lake Barrington!

If you’re a rower looking to improve performance or manage injury, Star Physio provides expert physiotherapy support tailored to rowing.

👉 Read more about our rowing physiotherapy in Perth here!

Book an Appointment

👉If you are suffering from a rowing injury, or even better, if you want to prevent rowing injuries, book here!

Our role is to help athletes stay healthy, train harder, and perform when it matters most.