McBride made a surprise retirement announcement yesterday, confirming she will not be heading to Tokyo.
Rowing can be an extremely tough sport — both mentally and physically.
But lightweight rowing is another level.
Not only do you have to be at your absolute peak in mind and body, you have to be watching your weight continuously.
That means balancing being strong enough to train and perform but also being part of a crew average of less than 59kg come race day.
McBride (25) was a world champion at the 2019 World Championships, partnering with Jackie Kiddle to win the women’s lightweight double.
The duo was expected to be a top medal contender at the Tokyo Olympics. McBride though will not be there.
She told the Otago Daily Times last year she had struggled for quite a while when the Olympics were postponed and the fact she would have to commit to another year of training.
McBride was a very talented junior rower and won four gold medals while at Kavanagh College at the Maadi Cup in 2013.
She represented New Zealand for the first time at the 2012 World Rowing Junior Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, where she picked up a bronze medal in the women’s quadruple sculls.
She shifted to Nelson in 2014 and went into lightweight boats, twice winning lightweight doubles titles at under-23 world championships.
McBride narrowly missed selection for the Rio de Janeiro Olympics but the following year teamed up with Kiddle to win a silver at the 2017 World Rowing Championships in Florida.
She missed out in the 2018 world championships but in 2019 with Kiddle went through undefeated in the World Rowing Cups and won gold at the World Rowing Championships, also clocking a World Championships best time in the process.
In a statement yesterday, McBride said it was a privilege to row with Kiddle.
‘‘Representing New Zealand has been an absolute honour, and while the decision to retire was difficult, it has given me an opportunity to reflect on all that rowing has provided me with. I am very proud of what I have achieved in sport, and I look forward to the next stage of my life,’’ she said.
‘‘I’m grateful for the amazing support received throughout my career from fellow teammates, support staff, friends and family.
‘‘Sport at an elite level can be very challenging, and my own mental wellbeing and the mental wellbeing of others will remain a focus of mine. I hope to offer support and guidance in this area to younger athletes in the near future.’’
She has completed a degree in marketing, and also gained qualifications in yoga training and nutrition.
She will remain based in Cambridge to pursue her career in marketing with a focus on women’s health.
Kiddle will continue training at Lake Karapiro as part of Rowing NZ’s High Performance Programme.
