Brendan Long

Brendan Long of Launceston, Tasmania, built a distinguished career as one of Australia’s leading scullers, with his Olympic journey defining his legacy. Growing up along the Tamar River, he began rowing at age 12 with St Patrick's College and developed his talent at the Tamar Rowing Club, where he remained throughout his career. By 1998, he was stroking Tasmania’s youth eight, launching a competitive trajectory that would lead to two Olympic Games.

Between 1999 and 2009, Long became a dominant force at the Australian Rowing Championships, winning eight national sculling titles, including multiple victories in the double and quad sculls. His international career began at the 1999 U23 World Rowing Championships, and in 2001 he achieved a Bronze medal in the U23 Quadruple Scull in Linz, Austria, while also competing at the senior World Championships in Lucerne. In 2003, he narrowly missed the podium with a fourth-place finish in the Quadruple Scull at the senior World Championships in Milan.

Long’s Olympic debut came at Athens 2004 in the men’s double sculls, finishing 12th with partner Peter Hardcastle. After a brief break, he returned for Beijing 2008—his career highlight. Racing in the men’s quad sculls with Christopher Morgan, James McRae, and Daniel Noonan, the crew set a world-record time of 5:36.20 in the heats, an Olympic best that stood until 2020. They finished a close fourth in the final, just shy of a medal.

After retiring, Long turned to coaching at the Tasmanian Institute of Sport and later Scotch Oakburn College, where he now guides young rowers.

Brendan Long a worthy inductee into the Tasmanian Sporting Hall of Fame.