Harriet Hudson

Fast Facts

Sport: Rowing
Event: Women’s Quadruple Scull 
Olympic History: Tokyo 2020 (bronze)
Coach: John Keogh (Head Coach), Tom Westgarth, Ellen Randell
Highlights: Bronze medal at Tokyo 2020. Winning silver in the 2017 and 2019 U23 World Championships 
Year Born: 1998
Born: Toowoomba, QLD
Junior Club: Somerville House (South Brisbane, QLD)

About Harriet

A native of rural Queensland, Harriet Hudson first learned to row as a Brisbane boarding school student. 

Once finished with her secondary education, Hudson made the journey to Sydney in search of further rowing opportunities, and began her tertiary studies at Sydney University. 

Once settled at the Sydney Rowing Club, Hudson earned her first selection in the Australian Rowing Team, coming in the Women’s Single Scull event at the 2016 Junior Championships, where she finished sixth overall. 

After three successive appearances at the U23 World Championships, earning silver in the 2017 and 2019 regattas, Hudson returned to Sydney to work under John Keogh, Tom Westgarth and Ellen Randell at Rowing Australia’s National Training Centre. 

At the 2021 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta, Hudson, alongside crewmates Caitlin Cronin, Rowena Meredith and Ria Thompson, ensured the participation of the Women’s Quadruple Scull in Tokyo 2020, with the four earning gold in the final to secure an Olympic berth. 

She made her Olympic debut in Tokyo and won a bronze medal alongside fellow debutants Ria Thompson, Rowena Meredith and Cailtin Cronin. 

At Japan's Sea Forest Waterway the crew faced a tough field and earned their position in the Final the hard way, via the repechage after they finished fourth in their heat.

The crew came up against USA, Italy, Great Britain and New Zealand in a tough race that required a top two finish to progress to the A-Final. The Olympic debutants crossed the line first and booked their position in the Olympic final.

The Aussies maintained fifth position for the first 1500-metres of the Final but their composure and boat speed in tough conditions pushed them through to take the bronze, ahead of crews from Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.

The result came during the ‘the hour of power,’ a moment in time when Australia’s Men’s and Women’s Fours stormed home for gold and the Men’s and Women’s Quadruple Sculls claimed bronze. The four medals won by Australian rowing crews, along with swimmer Ariarne Titmus' gold medal in the 200 metres freestyle, contributed to the most successful period in the history of the Australian Olympic Team.