LA Olympics shift makes Lake Burley Griffin a training base
LA's 1500-metre Olympic rowing course now matches Lake Burley Griffin's 1800m, making Canberra a training spot for 2028 hopefuls.
Lake Burley Griffin was too short for Olympic rowing practice until now. The Los Angeles Olympics rowing regatta will run 1500 metres instead of the traditional 2000 metres, giving Canberra's 1800-metre course a new purpose.
A fresh facility called Coastal Arena opens on the lake with the Golden Oar regatta. It cost about $1 million to build.
The facility offers a $200,000 prize pool that has drawn elite rowers. These include Olympic medallists from Romania, Croatia and New Zealand.
Officials hope the shorter race format will make Lake Burley Griffin perfect for athletes preparing for 2028. The venue sits alongside the Red Shed, a $10 million rowing facility on Black Mountain Peninsula.
- 1800 metres
- Lake length
- 1500 metres
- Olympic distance
- 200,000 dollars
- Prize pool
- About 1 million dollars
- Coastal Arena cost
Why it mattersCanberra can now attract world-class rowers for Olympic training, raising the city's profile as a serious sporting destination.
AustraliaCanberra gains a chance to host Olympic preparation events and showcase Australian rowing talent, while the new facility creates a permanent venue for coastal rowing and beach sprints.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
