Simon Keenan

Simon Keenan's affinity for rowing began during his time at Xavier College in Melbourne and quickly led to notable early success in the sport.

In 2010, representing Melbourne University Boat Club (MUBC), he won the Fawley Challenge Cup for junior quad sculls at the Henley Royal Regatta. The following year, racing for Upper Yarra Rowing Club and made-up part of the men's eight that claimed the Thames Challenge Cup at Henley.

He also represented Victoria in the youth eight, securing the Noel Wilkinson Trophy at the Interstate Regatta during the 2011 Australian Rowing Championships. Simon then received a rowing scholarship to Yale University, where he competed in Yale eights at US collegiate regattas throughout his four years, including a spot in the senior men's first eight during his sophomore year.

In 2013, Simon was selected to compete in the U23 World Rowing Championships held in Austria. Simon rowed in the men's coxed four, finishing second in their heat and fourth in the final. He was called up once again in 2014, but this time competed in the U23 men's eight for Australia. It was during this event that he would help his team finish first in their heat and second in the final.

For the 2017 rowing season, Simon joined Rowing Australia’s Reinhold Batschi National Training Centre in Canberra. He was selected for the Victorian men's senior eight, which finished second in the King's Cup at the Interstate Regatta. On the international scene in 2017 he placed second in the B-Final at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in the men’s eight.

In 2018, Simon would once again represent Australia on the world stage in the men’s eight, but this time winning silver at both the World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne and the World Rowing Championships in Plovdiv.

In 2019, he remained in the Australian men’s eight, finishing fifth at the World Rowing Cup II and sixth at the World Rowing Cup III. At the 2019 World Rowing Championship, Simon and his team put in a stellar effort by finishing second in their heat and fourth in the A-final.

By finishing within the top five, the Australian men's eight qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

At the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Simon and his team would put in a commendable effort by finishing fourth in their first heat and repechage rounds to earn themselves a spot in the finals. Despite making it through to the finals, Simon and the Australian team finished in sixth place.

Post Tokyo, Simon competed in the King's Cup again in 2021, helping his home state of Victoria to victory. With Covid restricting international competitions throughout the 2021 season, his next start would come in the 2022 World Rowing Cup II, finishing in second place in the men's eight final. A feat he would back up again in 2023. Simon also found success in Melbourne Uni Boat Club colours, winning the 2023 Australian Rowing Championship in the men's eight team.

The second half of 2023 saw Simon shift his focus from the men's eight to men's pairs for the first time in his international career. He competed in the 2023 World Rowing Cup III event, finishing second in the B-Final.

It was his efforts in the World Rowing Championships alongside his rowing partner Fergus Hamilton that would ultimately earn Australia a spot in the Paris Olympic Games. The duo would win their heat and battle it through the quarter and semi-finals to gain a B-Final berth where the pair finished second. This result earned Australia a qualifying spot in the men's pairs for Paris 2024.

Simon's recent form and previous achievements have earned him a ticket to Paris in the men's pair where he will partner alongside Patrick Holt.