Kim Brennan

Kimberley Jean "Kim" Brennan (née Crow; born 9 August 1985) is an Australian retired rower. She is a sixteen-time national champion, two-time World Champion, three-time Olympian and Olympic gold medallist.

Personal life Crow was born in Melbourne and went to school at Templestowe Heights Primary School from prep to year 4 then Ruyton Girls' School from year 5. Her father Max Crow was a Victorian Football League footballer between 1974 and 1986. She is a qualified lawyer and has been a regular columnist for The Age. The couple has a son, Jude, born in 2018.

Athletics career Crow was a 400 m hurdler and she won the silver medal at the 2001 World Youth Championships in Athletics. She won the Australian junior title at the Australian Athletics Championships for the seasons 2001–2002 and 2003–2004. At the 2003–2004 Australian Athletics Championships, she finished fourth in the senior final behind Jana Pittman and was the ranked the second Australian.

Rowing career In 2005, Crow took up rowing after a leg injury ended her hurdling career. During the Victorian women's eights' twelve year consecutive victory run from 2005 to 2016, Crow was seated in the boat on nine occasions for nine Queen's Cup victories up until 2016. On five occasions at the Interstate Regatta she has raced in both the eight and the single scull on the same day, winning both titles on three occasions. She was coached by Lyall McCarthy at Rowing Australia's Centre of Excellence in Canberra.

In Melbourne University Boat Club colours, she contested the Australian national single sculls title at the Australian Rowing Championships five times from 2010 to 2014. She won that championship from 2011 to 2014.

Olympic Games Crow with her partner Sarah Cook finished fourth in the women's coxless pair B-Final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. At the 2012 London Olympic Games, Crow won a silver medal in the women's double sculls (with Brooke Pratley) and a bronze medal in the women's single sculls. alongside fellow Olympians, Susie O'Neill and Evelyn Halls for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

World Championships Crow was in the seven seat of Australian women's eight that won the bronze medal at the 2006 World Rowing Championships. She teamed with Kerry Hore to win silver medals in the Women's double scull at the 2010 and 2011 World Rowing Championships. defeating 2012 Summer Olympics champion Miroslava Knapková.

On 3 November 2018, Brennan officially announced her retirement from rowing at the Rowing Australia annual awards. She stated “While I’ve known within myself for some time that I am happy to leave my competitive rowing career behind me, the arrival of Jude has put the decision beyond any doubt. I’m loving every minute with him, and, on a personal level, I can’t imagine now being able to give the time and energy necessary to be successful in rowing at the top level". Rowing Australia President Rowing Australia President, Rob Scott said, “Kim has been an integral member of Australia's rowing team for over 10 years while also being a fantastic role model within the Australian Rowing Team and the broader Australian sporting community. Her performances on the world stage speak for themselves, but I am sure that one her proudest moments in the green and gold are when she won her Olympic gold medal at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Accolades 2010 and 2011 – Rowing Australia Awards – Female Athlete of the Year with Kerry Hore 2012, 2013 and 2016 – Victorian Female Athlete of the Year 2013 and 2016 – AIS Sport Performance Awards – Female Athlete of the Year 2013 – International Rowing Federation – Female Athlete of the Year 2013 – Australian Women's Health Prime Minister's Women in Sport Award 2016 – ACT Sports Awards – Female Athlete of the Year 2016 – Women's Health I Support Women in Sport (ISWIS) Awards – Sportswoman Of The Year 2017 – Member of the Order of Australia – for significant service to rowing, to the welfare of elite athletes, to sport as a gold medallist at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and to the community. 2018 — named as one of The Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence in the Arts, Culture and Sport category 2019 — Thomas Keller Medal — For her "exceptional rowing career and exemplary sportsmanship" 2023 — Sport Australia Hall of Fame inductee