Alumna Grace Prendergast retires from international rowing career

28/10/22

Grace Prendergast (2021) has announced that she is stepping away from high-performance rowing after a sensational career as one of New Zealand's most decorated rowers. Grace has achieved numerous accolades, including an Olympic gold and silver medal, fifteen National Premier titles for New Zealand, five World Championship titles, and the World Best Time in the women’s pair and four.

Grace is the only World Champion to have attended Queens' College, and Queens' most successful rower ever. She was made a member of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for her services to rowing in 2022.

Grace at her MCR talk on her Olympic journey in May 2022

Grace at her MCR talk on her Olympic journey in May 2022

With her partner Kerri Williams, Grace made her last international competitive appearance for New Zealand at the 2022 World Rowing Championships in the women’s pair, where they won gold in an outstanding time of 07:03.76.

“Rowing has shaped me into the person I am today and I never could have imagined the impact that it would have on my life. I achieved more than I ever thought I was capable of and although I’ll miss everything that rowing has given me, I feel l have fulfilled my dreams and am proud of the career I have had.”
Grace Prendergast

Grace completed her undergraduate degree and Masters in Business Studies in New Zealand, joining Queens' in 2021 to study for her MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration at Queens', and won the Boat Race in a record time of 18 minutes and 22 seconds against Oxford as part of Cambridge University Boat Club. With New Zealand compatriot and rowing teammate Ruby Tew (2021), she coached the Queens' men's side and spoke at the MCR SCR talks in May about her Tokyo Olympic journey.

The Grace Prendergast Sports Bursary, which aims to support students who require financial assistance to pursue a high-level sport, was recently established through a generous donation by Dr Richard Hargreaves (1964) at Queens' in her name. Paul McMeekin (2019) was selected as the first student to benefit from the bursary (2021-22) in his chosen sport, sailing.

Grace has been a fine ambassador for Queens' in her year of study, and we wish her every success in her future endeavours.

For more information on our sports bursaries, please click here.