Coles powers Aussie rowing team with groceries as they go for gold

Coles will power Australia’s 50 most talented rowers as they train to reach their dream of winning gold until 2020

The grocery deliveries to Rowing Australia’s National Training Centres at Canberra and Penrith in Sydney are part of a two year partnership announced today by Rowing Australia, building on support provided by Coles since 2016.

Elite athletes at the National Training Centres comprise medallists from the recent 2018 World Rowing Championships, including two crews who were crowned World Champions. Erik Horrie won his fifth consecutive world title in a world best time in the PR1 Men’s Single Scull, and the Men’s Four of Alexander Hill, Jack Hargreaves, Spencer Turrin and Joshua Hicks backed up their 2017 world title with another impressive win, adding to the long celebrated history for Australia in this boat class.

Also training at the centres and benefiting from this partnership are the Men’s and Women’s Eights who won silver and bronze respectively for the first time in eight and twelve years and the Women’s Four, Men’s Quadruple Scull and the PR3 Men’s Pair who all won silver.

For the next two years, Coles will also become an official partner of the Australian Indoor Rowing Challenge - a mass participation event encouraging people to get more active using ergo rowing machines. Recently seen in the Invictus Games, this new sport is gaining widespread popularity for being accessible to everyone.

Coles CEO Steven Cain said the partnership was part of Coles’ commitment to promoting healthy, active lifestyles in the community.

“We are passionate about our food at Coles and hope our grocery donations to Australia’s elite rowers will help power them to achieve their best on the world stage,” he said.

Rowing Australia Chief Executive Officer Ian Robson said the team was thrilled to be partnering with Coles to support our rowers striving for excellence on and off the water.

“Being a combination endurance and power sport, rowers have one of the most demanding training schedules of any elite athlete, training for up to eight hours a day, six days a week, 11 months of the year. Good nutrition is critical to ensuring they are fuelled to put in their best performance each day. Thanks to Coles, we are able to provide our athletes with the very best fresh produce and products to power their breakfast, lunch and snacks at the Centres each day.”

“At Rowing Australia, we are committed to supporting the whole athlete. Being able to provide this support on site at the centres, via the generosity of Coles, goes a long way to reduce the financial burden on our athletes as they chase their dream of representing Australia. Coles are helping make good things happen for our rowers on a daily basis.”

INTERESTING FOOD FACTS – AVERAGE DAILY DIET OF A MALE ROWER

Daily Kilojoules: 25,000 – 30,000 per day
Meal Plan: Two Breakfasts, Lunch, Two Dinners, Four Snacks, Dessert and Supper
Most eaten food: Milk – average up to 3 Litres per day
Favourite Snacks: Bananas and Muesli Bars