Katie Lush
Katie Lush competed in Triathlon at school and instead only discovered her love for the sport of Rowing while at university. Katie began rowing in 2017 with the University of Waikato Rowing Club, and quickly found success.
In 2018, during her first season, she won gold in the novice women’s quad and two silver medals in other novice events at the New Zealand National Rowing Championships. She also achieved four first-place finishes while representing University of Waikato at the University Rowing Championships.
Her impressive debut season earned her an invitation to the Waikato Regional Performance Centre (RPC), where she trained alongside other high-potential athletes identified as promising future representatives for New Zealand age-group teams. Katie soon fulfilled that potential. At the end of her second rowing season, she was selected for the New Zealand U23 Women’s Quad, competing at the 2019 U23 World Championships in Sarasota, where the crew placed fifth overall. Achieving international selection so early in her rowing career highlighted Katie’s enormous potential.
Katie returned to the Waikato RPC for the 2019–2020 summer season and continued her strong progression, winning the U22 women’s quad and U22 women’s double sculls at the New Zealand National Rowing Championships. Her results caught the attention of Rowing New Zealand, and Katie was invited into the Summer Squad for the 2021–2022 season, before being reselected for the 2022–2023 squad. At the 2023 National Rowing Championships, Katie raced alongside Olympic champion Emma Twigg, winning bronze in the women’s premier double sculls.
For the 2023–2024 season, Katie returned to club rowing and enjoyed another highly successful campaign. She won national premier titles in the women’s four and women’s quad, as well as a silver medal in the premier double sculls.
Following this season, Katie moved to the United Kingdom to broaden her rowing experience, joining Molesey Boat Club. She thrived in the new environment and competed in the Women’s Championship Quad at both Henley Women’s Regatta and Henley Royal Regatta, where her crew progressed to the semi-final stage.
Katie then returned to New Zealand and represented Waikato Rowing Club at the 2025 National Rowing Championships, where she won four medals: silver in the premier pair, bronze in the premier double and premier quad, and a national title in the women’s premier eight.
After enjoying her UK experience so much, Katie returned for another season at Molesey Boat Club and joined the Wargrave Women’s Eight Project for Henley Royal Regatta. The crew went on to win the event — a major achievement and a significant international highlight in Katie’s career.
Back in New Zealand for the 2025–2026 domestic season, Katie raced the pair with Isobel Watson, consistently performing strongly throughout the regatta calendar. At the 2026 National Rowing Championships, she won silver in the women’s premier four and secured another national title in the premier eight.
These performances earned Katie an invitation to trial for the New Zealand Elite World Cup Team, where she completed a demanding week of 2km erg testing, seat racing, and time trials. Katie was successful in the trial process and was selected in the women’s pair with Juliette Lequeux to compete at the World Rowing Cups in Seville, Spain, and Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Racing alongside Juliette, the pair enjoyed a successful international campaign, finishing seventh at World Cup I before improving to fifth at World Cup II. Their strong performances earned them re-selection as a combination for the 2026 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.
This will be Katie’s first elite international racing campaign — a significant milestone and testament to her determination and resilience throughout her rowing journey.
Outside of rowing, Katie graduated from the University of Waikato with a Bachelors of Health, Sport and Human Performance Science and Strategic Management, she then began her career (alongside rowing) working at Waddell NZ, focusing on connecting business with charity. She now works as a project manager, helping to create lasting, meaningful impact within the communities they support. In her spare time, she enjoys getting away to Tairua, Coromandel, as well as spending time with family and friends.
