Five-time Olympian and former St Patrick’s College rower Anthony Edwards said his sport has taken him to different parts of the world, but he owes his success to his hometown of Ballarat.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Edwards returned to Ballarat to the Ballarat City Rowing Club for a boat christening in his honour on Saturday.
Edwards attended the 1996, 2000, 2004, 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games – enjoying two silver medals and a bronze, an achievement he speaks proudly of.
But six years before his first Olympics was a performance that sits high on his list of achievements – the 1990 Head of the Lake triumph.
Edwards told The Courier of the anticipation ahead of the race as St Pat’s looked to break a 29-year drought in Ballarat’s biggest school rowing regatta.
“I was fortunate, I rowed in the first crew for three years, which is something that doesn’t necessarily always happen,” Edwards said.
“What gave me a bit of a burning sense was that I used to look up on the honour board and it said the last time St Patrick’s College won the Head of the Lake was 1961 and this was 1990 and my last year of rowing for St Pat’s.
“I was very motivated to try and get my name up on that board...we managed to win the Head of the Lake, which was a big moment for the school and I have great memories of that day and that race. That was something that taught me how to drive myself and push myself to find a result.
“I was highly motivated after that to row for my country and maybe make it to an Olympic Games.”
Edwards said Ballarat would always be home.
“I am a Ballarat boy who went to five Olympics...this place gave me the foundations.
“The people who taught me the basics of what to do in the sport came from here in Ballarat – that’s why Ballarat is so close to my heart.”
Edwards discussed some of his fondest Olympic memories.
He recalled the immense pressure that was on the crew heading into the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games. With such expectation on the entire Olympic team heading into the event, his rowing crew was pipped by less than a metre by the French team.
While the 1996 Atlanta Games, his first, Edwards said were amazing. The thrill of making it to such an event as well as medalling made it a special occasion.
“It was a great moment.
“To race in Atlanta, it was just exciting. When I look back over my five Olympics, that race, standing on the podium, my Dad was there, he passed away a few years later - so that was really special for me.”
