Laura Gourley: Womens Quad Skull (Rowing)

Guess What; This week Laura Gourley found out she's going to the Olympics!

Of the 37 athletes on Australia's Rowing team, at least 6 of them are from rural Australia.

This ratio of country to city people is high and so it's fitting that we kick off this podcast - which is all about elevating the stories of rural and regional Australian athletes heading to Paris - with a sport that's seen a high representation from farm kids over the years.

And 24 year old Laura who'll be rowing in the Women's Quad Skull is no different.

She grew up on a cropping farm at Edgeroi, 20 mins outside of Narrabri.

In fact she tributes some of her success: to the kindness of her fellow farming friends. One neighbour lent her a skull - as in a single rowing boat - to train in During Covid. And another neighbour lent her their 2km long irrigation channel - to train on.