It wasn't in the traditional way that they had hoped, but Laura Foley and Sophie Reinehr donned the Australian zootie for the first time recently.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Both Head of the Lake winners, Foley and Reinehr were selected in the under 23 and under 21 Australian teams respectively.
READ MORE SPORT:
They were due to compete in the World Rowing Cup 3 simulation regatta at West Lakes in South Australia, taking on the Australian senior team as they prepared for the Tokyo Olympics.
Due to lockdown, however, they were forced to stay in Victoria and compete with the Victorian members of the two squads.
It was different, but a great experience, Reinehr said.
"It kind of felt a bit weird, the fact that we were pulling it on also knowing that we weren't racing with the rest of our crew mates," she said.
"It was kind of nice to finish up the campaign and go 'well that was the situation we were given but at least we were given an opportunity to finish it off and race'.
"It feels weird the fact that you've worked towards that level for so long and then when it actually happens you kind of can't believe it, takes a while to set in."
Reinehr, a Ballarat Grammar School alumni, rowed in the under 21 women's coxed eight.
Foley, a Loreto College graduate, rowed in the under 23 women's coxed eight and women's pair.
"It was a pretty exciting experience. The season didn't really pan out how we thought it would ... it was quite a disappointment for all of us really," Foley said.
"There were lots of questions around if we would get our uniform, whether we'd get a chance to actually race in it.
"All of the team at Rowing Victoria and the head coaches were pretty determined to still hold an event for all of us so that we could receive our Australian uniform and get a chance to race in it."
Despite an interrupted World Rowing Cup 3, Foley was lucky in that her eight boat competed against the Australian women's Olympic eight boat at the World Rowing Cup 2 in Brisbane in May.
Former Ballarat Clarendon College rower Katrina Werry, who this week booked her ticket to Tokyo, was a part of that senior crew.
"That was a really exciting event to be a part of," Foley said.
"We got the opportunity to be amongst it all and see how they work as athletes and see the standard that they're at."
The pair will now look ahead to their winter training at their respective clubs.
Reinehr, who was in her last year of the under 21 team this year, said she is contemplating a move to sculling, but ultimately her goal in the next season is to put her name forward for the under 23 team.
Foley, who has one year to go in the under 23 team, said she is hoping to make the team again, but wants stay on Rowing Australia's radar and be invited to the senior team trials in September.
"Even though I still have another season of under 23's, I still want to continue training and try and get invited to those trials," she said.
"If I get selected then I'll get to move and train at the national training centre.
"The next Olympics cycle is only three years until Paris in 2024.
"I think my goal, best case scenario ... hopefully I would be in a position where I could go to the national training centre and then start that three year training to the Olympics."
If you are seeing this message you are a loyal digital subscriber to The Courier, as we made this story available only to subscribers. Thank you very much for your support and allowing us to continue telling Ballarat's story. We appreciate your support of journalism in our great city.
Have you signed up to The Courier's variety of news emails? You can register below and make sure you are up to date with everything that's happening in Ballarat.