Ria Thompson

Biography

Ria Thompson, hailing from Carlton, Australia, found her sporting passion at Lowther Hall Anglican Grammar School in Melbourne, where she first took up rowing. She quickly rose to prominence, clinching the U21 Australian Championship in the single scull in 2016. Her success continued with second-place finishes in the U23 double and quad sculls the following year. By 2018, representing Mercantile, she had swept the U23 national titles in all sculling categories, and went on to win U23 national titles in the single and quad sculls for the University of Queensland Boat Club in 2019.

Making her international debut in 2018, Ria competed in the U23 women’s double scull at the Junior World Championships, finishing fifth. The next year, she represented Australia at the World U23 Championships in Sarasota-Bradenton, where she memorably came from behind in the final 40 meters to secure gold in the women’s single scull. In 2021, Ria played a crucial role in qualifying Australia's women's quadruple scull for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics by winning gold at the final qualification regatta.

Ria's Olympic debut was nothing short of spectacular, as her crew triumphed in the repechage and went on to win a bronze medal in the final. Continuing her journey, she was again selected in 2023 for the Australian quad sculls crew, competing in international events and demonstrating her enduring commitment and skill in the sport of rowing.