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SCOTT BRENNAN 

World Rowing Champion
& Olympic Gold Medallist

At a Glance

 

Scott Brennan is among the truly elite of world rowing after topping off a magnificent career with a Gold Medal in the double sculls in partnership with Victorian David Crawshay at the Beijing Olympic Games. His ultimate triumph came on top of an U23 world championship, an Australian Open title in single sculls, and a string of World Cup medals, among countless other accolades - and all while studying to be a doctor. Little wonder he was named 2008 Tasmanian Sports Personality of the Year and has been nominated for the 2008 Australian of the Year.

It's been a journey which started at the elite level in 2001, when he won a silver medal in the junior single sculls at the world championships in Germany. In 2003 he collected a gold medal in the U23 single scull at the world championships in Belgrade, but in 2004, as a member of the Australian squad scull crew, he won a World Cup event in Lucerne but finished a disappointing 7^th at in the same event at the Athens Olympic Games. Categorically, he says, it was a race the Australians should have won

From 2005 he began building for Beijing. He won the '05 Australian double sculls title and finished 2^nd in the single sculls. In '06 he won both titles, and in '07 he collected a World Cup bronze medal in Amsterdam. And in '08 two World Cup bronze medals led into the glory of Beijing.

But 25-year-old Dr. Brennan and dual Olympian isn't finished yet. He'll take 2009 off training to complete his medical internship at Royal Hobart Hospital before returning to the boat in 2009 and his quest for back-to-back gold medals at the 2012 London Olympics.

Scott Brennan - Personal Details

Born: 9 January 1983 in Hobart
Height: 193cm
Weight: 95kg
Resides: Hobart, Tasmanian
Parents: Brian & Diane
Sisters: Sarah & Leah

Scott Brennan - In Summary

Scott Brennan has excelled in all facets of his life, finding a wonderful balance between the demands of full-time study and full-time rowing while adding a string of social and community activities, and other sporting and recreational pastimes. He is a one-time Tasmanian State junior rugby union representative who 'discovered' rowing at school and has never looked back. But rowing has only ever been part of his sporting landscape. Captain of both his junior and senior colleges, he has also enjoyed success and competition in Karate, Taekwondo and Cycling, and had an interest in Boxing and Running. Similarly, sport has only ever been part of his overall outlook on life. He has also treasured time as a Camp Quality volunteer since 2001, working with young cancer patients. And yet at 25 the journey is only just beginning, and promises to be as glittering as the medal that catapulted him into the sporting spotlight in Beijing.

 

Scott Brennan - At Sport  

Scott Brennan has been a full scholarship holder at the Tasmanian Institute of Sport (TIS) since 2000 and was also on a full scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) in 2004. It has been involvement which has provided a wonderful platform for a stellar rowing career that unfolded as follows:-

   

            2001

• 2nd placeJunior World Championships, men's single scull, Duisburg, Germany.
• Australian junior single scull champion (new Australian record)
• Australian senior quad scull, junior quad scull and junior double scull champion, silver medal in men's youth eight
• Tasmanian Institute of Sport Junior Athlete of the Year
• Tasmanian Sports Federation Junior Athlete of the Year

        2002

• 1st place Australian U23 men's single scull
• 2nd place U23 men's double scull
• 3rd place senior men's quad scull

        2003

• 1^st place U23 World Championships, men's single scull, Belgrade, Serbia
• Tasmanian Institute of Sport Junior Athlete of the Year
• Tasmanian Sports Federation Junior Athlete of the Year

        2004

• 1^st place, World Cup, men's quad scull, Lucerne, Switzerland
• 7^th place, men's quad scull, Athens Olympic Games

       2005

• 1^st place President's Cup Interstate Single Scull Race (3^rd Tasmanian in history)
• 1^st place Australian men's senior double scull
• 2^nd place Australian men's senior single scull
• Finalist for Tasmanian Young Achiever of the Year (sport)

       2006

• 1^st place President's Cup Interstate Single Scull Race
• 1^st place, Australian men's senior single sculll
• 1^st place, Australian men's senior double scull
• Finalist for Tasmanian Young Achiever of the Year (sport)

       2007

• Selected in Australian senior sculling team priority boat to compete in Munich, September 2007 men's double scull (new Australian record)
• 3^rd place, men's double scull, World Cup, Amsterdam, Netherlands
• 6^th place, men's double scull, World Cup, Linz, Austria

       2008

• Gold Medal double scull, Beijing Olympic Games
• 3rd place, men's double scull, World Cup, Munich, Germany 
• 3rd place, men's double scull, World Cup, Lucerne, Switzerland
• Australian men's quad scull and double scull champion
• Tasmanian Sports Personality of the Year
• Tasmanian Young Achiever of the Year (sport)
  

Scott Brennan - In the Community

• Extensive voluntary work through the Tasmanian Institute of Sport, conducting sports workshops and public speaking throughout primary schools and communities in Tasmania, ranging from local Hobart schools to the Northwest and East Coast. 
• Active involvement with Camp Quality since 2001, becoming a full volunteer in 2006.
• Extensive voluntary public speaking throughout , mainly aimed at motivating school children of all ages but also including numerous social and sporting clubs.
• Voluntary coaching of school aged rowing athletes, as well as assisting in formulating effective training programs for people ranging in level from international Taekwondo representatives to more casual sports enthusiasts.
• Casual work as fruit-picker, labourer, renovator and painter during vacations, as well as providing voluntary labour and bartending at the Lindisfarne Rowing Club.  

Scott Brennan - At Study

University of Tasmania, Hobart 2001-07

• Bachelor of Medical Science, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (Honours)
• Placed on Dean's Roll of Honour 2005
• Member of Golden Keys Society for Academic Excellence
• Awarded Sports Person of the year, 2001
• Awarded Full Blue for Inter-Varsity representation in rowing, 2001
• Member of the winning Vice-Chancellor's Cup crew, 2002

Guilford Young College, Hobart 1999-2000  

• College captain 2000
• Academic excellence award for high TCE score: 2000
• Five Australian junior national titles including schoolboy single scull; numerous state, school and club titles.
• Australian Rowing Team men's quad sculls at junior world championships Zagreb, Croatia: 2000
• Senior Athletics team 1999 & 2000. 

St. Virgil's College, Hobart 1995-98  

• College captain 1998
• Student Representative Council 1997
• Awarded the Academic Prize for History and Science 1998
• Also involved in waterpolo, rugby (state representative), athletics and rowing (multiple school, state and national titles)

Scott Brennan - In Private Time  

• Has enjoyed an interest in playing the piano 
• Has a passion for travel
• Is interested in classical literature and philosophy
• Enjoys rowing coaching

Scott Brennan - News File

• Tasmanian Sports Personality of the Year - 19 September 2008
• The Olympic Final - 16 August 2008