Grace Prendergast

Grace Prendergast
Prendergast in 2022
Personal information
Born (1992-06-30) 30 June 1992
Christchurch, New Zealand
EducationVilla Maria College
Queens' College, Cambridge
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight74 kg (163 lb)
Sport
SportRowing
Event(s)
Coxless pair, Coxless four, Eight
ClubAvon Rowing Club
Medal record
Women's rowing
Representing  New Zealand
Olympic Games
2020 Tokyo Coxless pair
2020 Tokyo Eight
World Championships
2014 Amsterdam Coxless four
2017 Sarasota Coxless pair
2019 Ottensheim Coxless pair
2019 Ottensheim Eight
2022 Račice Coxless pair
2015 Aiguebelette Coxless pair
2015 Aiguebelette Eight
2018 Plovdiv Coxless pair

Grace Elizabeth Prendergast MNZM (born 30 June 1992) is a former New Zealand sweep rower. She is a 15-time national champion in the premier category, an Olympic champion, a five-time world champion and the current (2022) world champion in the coxless pair. She grew up in Christchurch, where she started rowing for the Avon Rowing Club in 2007. She competed at the Tokyo Olympics in two boat classes and won gold in the coxless pair and a silver in the eight and set a new world's best time in the pair. Various parties, including the World Rowing Federation, expected her to win medals in Tokyo. She was the highest ranked female rower in the world twice in a row in 2019 and 2021. Since 2014, her rowing partner in the coxless pair has been Kerri Gowler. Prendergast is also a Boat Race winner, having competed as part of Cambridge University Boat Club's (CUBC) women's crew in 2022. She retired from professional rowing in October 2022.