JESS MORRISON OAM (OL 2010)
Olympic Rower (pictured 2nd from right)

After graduating from Lauriston in 2010, Jess aimed for Olympic glory in swimming, accepting a scholarship from the Australian Institute of Sport and training in Canberra for the 2012 trials. She transferred from the University of Melbourne to the Australian National University to study Economics. Jess excelled, winning gold in the 4x100m freestyle relay at the 2011 World University Games and multiple medals at World Swimming Cups in 2012. However, a shoulder injury led her to switch to rowing.

By 2016, Jess joined the Australian Rowing Team, and despite missing initial qualification for the Rio Olympics, the team got a last-minute spot due to the Russian drug scandal, finishing 7th. From 2017 to 2024, Jess was a key member of the Victorian Queens Cup crew, securing numerous state and national titles in sweep rowing.

In 2019, Jess paired with Annabelle McIntyre OAM, achieving World Cup wins and silver medals at the World Rowing Championships, which qualified them for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Although Tokyo was postponed to 2021 due to COVID, Jess and Annabelle won gold as part of the Women’s Four. In becoming Olympic Champions, the Four joined the small group of only three other Australian women rowers to win Olympic gold. Jess and Annabelle finished 7th in the Women’s Pair, motivating them to continue.

In 2022, Jess was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. She won the 2022 Henley Royal Regatta and 2023 Head of the Charles. In 2024 at the Paris Olympics, Jess and Annabelle earned a bronze medal in the Women’s Pair, the sole medal for Australia’s rowing team.