Local rowing star Paige Barr has been selected to row in the women’s pairs as part of the Australian Rowing Team at the 2025 World Cup meet in Varese, Italy from June 13-15.
It’s the first stage of the 2025 World Rowing Cup with 39 countries participating, with the the biggest contingents coming from Great Britain, Germany, Australia, and the home nation.
Athletes from Iraq, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Brazil, and Indonesia will also be trying to get their first medals of the international rowing season.
The World Rowing Cup series was launched in 1997 and consists of an annual series of three events, although, exceptionally, only two stages will be held in 2025.
The overall World Rowing Cup winners are determined after the last event through the points accumulated at both events.
This other race this year is in Lucerne, Switzerland (June 27-29).
Barr is a determined and talented sweep rower from Bairnsdale, who continues to rise through the ranks of Australian rowing with grit, skill, and a trademark sense of humour.
A two-time National Training Centre scholar, Barr who rows domestically for the Mercantile Club in Melbourne, made her Olympic debut in Paris 2024 in the stroke seat of the Australian women’s eight, which finished fourth, Australia’s best-ever result in the event at an Olympic Games.
Barr first discovered rowing at Gippsland Grammar School in Sale, after school joined Mercantile, winning her first national title in the under 21 women’s coxless four in 2021.
That same year, she was selected in the under 23 Australian Rowing Team and went on to claim a bronze medal at the World Rowing under 23 Championships in the coxless four.
In 2022, Barr broke through at the senior level, part of the Australian women’s eight that claimed gold at World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, the boat that went on to place fifth at the World Rowing Championships in Račice.
She also won silver in the under 23 women’s single scull at Nationals and added another national title in the under 23 women’s quad scull.
In 2023, Barr further cement her place in the senior squad, as the women’s eight won gold at World Rowing Cup II, bronze at World Rowing Cup III, and a hard-fought bronze medal at the 2023 World Rowing Championships, a standout moment in her career so far.
Domestically she helped Victoria win the Queen’s Cup.
In 2024, Barr continued her strong form, winning gold in the open women’s eight and four at the Australian Rowing Championships.
It’s been a great start to 2025 for Barr, adding to her national collection with a win in the open women’s quad scull at the Australian Rowing Championships.
