Angus Dawson

Despite being so young into his career, South Australian Angus Dawson has already achieved what many can only dream of. Born in Bedford Park, Angus took up rowing at St Peters College.

Angus impressed at youth level, representing South Australia on several occasions as well as developing his rowing ability at the state's sports institute. Angus represented the state in the youth eight at the Interstate regatta in both 2017 and 2018.

2019 however was the year in which Angus started to make a name for himself on the Australian rowing scene. He won an U19s national title in the double scull alongside teammate Mitchell Reinhard. In addition, he made his senior debut for South Australia, when he took part in the King’s Cup.

Most impressively, Angus travelled to the United States to compete for Australia in the Under 23s World Championships and shocked race favourites Great Britain and Italy to claim first place in the men's coxed four.

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Identifying Angus’s talent, the University of California offered him a four-year rowing scholarship. Angus took up the offer and moved went to their Berkeley campus in the United States to develop his rowing in a new and challenging environment.

He raced in the varsity eight, competing at a few regattas as a freshman including the Las Vegas International and the Princeton Chase. However, due to concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, Angus’s season at Berkeley was cut short as he returned home.

Undeterred, Angus set his sights on the Tokyo Olympics and a place in the Australian men's eight crew. He made his debut at the Olympic Games, with the Australian team finishing fourth in the heat.

However, finishing the repechage in fourth position meant they qualified for the A-Final where they competed against a stacked field and finished sixth.

After the Tokyo Olympics Angus returned to the United States in 2021 where he rejoined the California Berkeley varsity eight.

In 2022 they won the Intercollegiate Rowing Association (IRA) National Championship and Angus was named in the International Rowing Coaches' Association's 'first team' in rowing. Then at the 2022 U23 World Championships he won bronze representing Australia in the men's eight.

Angus remained in the USA for the 2023 season, where his Cal Berkeley varsity eight crew was undefeated and repeated as IRA national champions, while Angus once again received first team all-American honours. Two weeks later he was with the Australian Rowing Team at World Cup II in Varese, Italy, where he claimed bronze with Joseph 'Jack' O'Brien in the men's pair.

Angus and Jack subsequently moved into the men's eight and helped the crew win gold at World Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland. Over in Belgrade, Serbia at the 2023 World Championships Angus and the Aussie men's eight finished on the podium with bronze medals behind world champions the Netherlands and Great Britain.

In May of 2024, Angus competed in the men's eight at the World Rowing Cup II. Australia qualified for the final, however just missed out on a medal finishing in fourth place.

A few weeks later in June, the Australian men's eight won gold at World Cup III in Poznan, Poland in their final tune-up ahead of the Paris Olympics.