Robert Richards

Robert Richards (born 22 September 1971 in Ballarat, Victoria) is an Australian former lightweight rower. He is a former world champion, an Olympic silver medallist and a national champion. In the four years he rowed for Australia at the premier world regatta he won a medal each time.

International representative rowing Richards first represented Australia in the lightweight eight at the Aiguebelette 1997 where the Australians won a thrilling final by 0.03 seconds with only 1.5 lengths separating the field. There Richards won his first and only world championship title.

That same lightweight coxless four stayed together for the Sydney 2000 Olympics. The event showcased two match races between the Australians and the French crew. They met in a semi-final where the Australians, with Richards setting the pace, pipped the French by 3/100ths of a second. In the final the Australians led for much of the race. The French tried once to break through and failed, then a second time and failed and finally with a matter of metres to go broke through to win by less than half a second. Both races were a superb highlight of the regatta and won Richards Olympic silver in his last Australian representative appearance.