Monash's Mitch fends off Brits' comeback to be crowned rowing World Champion

In his debut for Australia, Monash student Mitchell Hooper has earnt himself the title of World Champion, after the Australian U23 Men’s Coxed Four team claimed gold at the 2019 U23 World Championships in Florida last month. 


The crew had to fend off a last minute sprint to the line from Great Britain, beating the rival team by just 0.09 seconds, in a time of 6 minutes and 10 seconds. Italy were close behind, finishing barely more than half a second later to take the bronze.

The finish was so tight that Mitch, who studies a Bachelor of Science, said the Aussies thought they may have been caught at the line.

“I had a look across when we crossed the line, and I saw Great Britain, and they were all cheering and celebrating. So I had a moment of ‘oh no, I think we got run down’, but I was pretty sure that we’d won because I finished in front of their bowman,” he said.

“The umpire boat came up to us to see if we were alright, and we were all calling out to them asking them who’d won. And then they pointed at us, that’s when we knew.”
The Aussies celebrate their narrow victory over Great Britain and Italy (also pictured). Mitch is the bowman, sitting closest to the front of the boat. Picture: supplied. 

Knowing they would struggle to gain speed towards the end of the race in the heavier boat class, Mitch said the crew’s tactic was to reach maximum speed early and try to maintain it for longer than everyone else.

“We knew they had fast finishes, so we had to have a fast mid race… and make sure they couldn’t catch us,” he said.

“You haven’t raced any of these guys before, so the whole time you’re unsure of where you stand. You’re full of anxiety, and you’re training three, sometimes four, times a day, so you’re hoping that it’s worth it.

“It was all pretty awesome, I guess in a way it’s pretty surreal. It’s strange that I don’t feel any better necessarily, but now I have this title behind my name.”

Following an extensive selection process beginning last year, Mitch, who trains with Mercantile Rowing Club, was selected not only to compete in the Coxed Four event, but also to represent the country in the Men’s Eight.  

The Men’s Eight placed sixth overall at the event, and faced an exciting finish in the repechage. After finishing last in the heat, the crew knew they had to place top two in the repechage to make finals, but were racing against strong teams such as Canada and Germany.
Mitch raced each day of the regatta, alternating between competing for the Men's Eight and the Coxed Four. Picture: supplied.

Mitch said the Aussies’ were coming third for most of the race and were about three quarters of a length behind Canada (in second place) with 500 metres to go, but were able to close the distance and beat them by less than a second to secure their spot in the final.

“I know that that crew especially had only been together for a few months, so we were super excited to make the eight final for that one,” he said.

“It was definitely exciting, because this whole season for me has just been really close racing. So I guess to come out to represent Australia was something that was just amazing. Then to have a good result at the World Champs was just the cherry on top.”

The event was held from July 24 to 28, in the height of the humid Florida summer, so Mitch said his endurance was tested by having to race and train daily for the two events.

“It was tough, because even when it was meant to be your rest period during the regatta so you’d freshen up before your race, I was rowing on the water three times a day,” he said.

“I think it’s really tiring because when you do your race you’re really performing outside of what you’re able to do. You really have to exhaust yourself.”
All but one of Mitch's (pictured right) World Champion team mates were representing Australia for the first time. Picture: supplied. 

Mitch took up rowing in high school at age 15, following in the footsteps of his dad, Warwick Hooper, who also studied at Monash University.

Warwick was a member of the 1992 Olympic rowing squad, a multiple Australian and Victorian Rowing Champion, and represented Australia at the 1990 World Championships, among other achievements.

Mitch is also hoping to continue representing Australia at international competitions, and will be vying for a spot on the Australian team at the 2020 U23 World Championships and Open World Championships.

But for the next week or so though, he said he will be taking a well-earned break.

“It’s kind of hard to do when I just want to get back into it, because it’s all pretty motivating.”

“When I got back here, the level that I row at now after rowing at the World Championships is I think at a higher standard. I definitely think I’m a better athlete because of it.”

“You just go faster, you just seem a little bit better than you did before.”

Keep it up Mitch, fingers crossed you can steal your old man’s title as the number one Hooper rower!



Written by Nell O’Shea Carre, Media Coordinator.

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