Olivia Loe calls time on her elite rowing career
Having represented New Zealand since 2010, Olivia (Liv) Loe has made a decision to retire from rowing.
Liv’s first New Zealand team was in the junior women’s quadruple sculls at the 2010 World Rowing Junior Championships. Liv joined the U23 team in 2011 and represented New Zealand in both sculling and sweeping at U23 level, picking up a bronze in 2012 in the quad and silver in 2014 in the four.In 2017 Liv gained selection in the elite women’s double sculls with Brooke Donoghue. The two were an instant hit. They were unbeaten in 2017, crowning the year with a dominant win at the World Rowing Championships in Sarasota. In 2018 Liv was selected again in the same combination, and she and Brooke picked up a close silver at the World Rowing Championships.
2019 was a year of redemption for Brooke and Liv, being undefeated in their international season, a second World Rowing Championship gold came as a sweet reward for all their hard work. Between 2017 and 2019 Liv and Brooke won 20 of 22 international races, finishing 2nd in the other two.
In 2021, after a delay with the Tokyo Olympics, Liv was selected in the Women’s quadruple scull gaining 8th Place.
Geoff Barry, Chief Executive at Rowing NZ said: “Liv is a special athlete and person. Clearly she is a talented rower but is also an athlete with a huge heart and capacity to push herself to the absolute limit to achieve success, with two World Championship Gold medals to prove it. We wish her every success in her future endeavours”.
“It’s been a privilege to represent New Zealand on the world stage and something that I am incredibly proud of. I would like to thank my friends and family for all they’ve done for me over the years. Your patience and support while I pursued my dreams gave me the platform to achieve what I did. Although I am proud of what I achieved over my years as part of this team, the friendships and memories that I leave with are what I will cherish the most.”