Tara Kelly (born 21 June 1985) is an Australian former representative lightweight rower. She was a national champion and 2007 world champion.

Tara Kelly
Personal information
Born (1985-06-21) 21 June 1985 (age 38)
Years active1999-2007
Sport
SportRowing
ClubTweed Heads Rowing Club
Medal record
Women's rowing
Representing  Australia
World Rowing Championships
Gold medal – first place 2007 Munich LW4x
World Rowing U23 Championships
Silver medal – second place 2005 Amsterdam LW2x
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Poznan LW2x
World Junior Rowing Championships
Gold medal – first place 2003 Athens LW2x

Club and state rowing edit

Kelly was educated at St Joseph's Queensland where she took up rowing. She won the national Schoolgirl Scull title at the Australian Rowing Championships in 2001.[1]

Kelly's senior rowing was done from the Tweed Heads Rowing Club.

In 2007, Kelly rowed in the Queensland state representative crew contesting the Victoria Cup in the women's lightweight quad scull at the Interstate Regatta within the Australian Rowing Championships.[2] In Tweed Heads Rowing Club colours she also contested national titles at the Australian Rowing Championships. She raced in the lightweight double scull in 2006; in the lightweight quad scull in 2007; and she contested the lightweight single scull event in 2006 winning that year's Australian title.[3]

International representative rowing edit

Kelly first represented Australia at the 2003 Junior World Rowing Championships in Athens. In a double scull with Sally Kehoe she won gold and a junior world title.[4] In 2004 and 2005 she represented at the World Rowing U23 Championships in the double scull. She placed third with Susanne Brown in Poznan in 2004 and second with Jessica Huston in Amsterdam in 2005.[4]

Kelly was elevated to the senior Australian women's lightweight quad for the 2007 World Rowing Championships in Munich. Seated at three with Bronwen Watson, Miranda Bennett, and Alice McNamara they won their heat and lead the final from the 500 m mark to claim the gold and Kelly's first and only senior World Championship title.[5][4]

References edit