Kelsey Bevan

Kelsey Bevan started rowing in 2007 for Counties Manukau Rowing Club and Manurewa High School.

She represented New Zealand as part of the youth Olympic team in 2009, picking up a gold and a bronze at the regatta. She was then selected in the U23 women’s eight in 2010 and 2011, and the crew gained back-to-back silver medals at the World Rowing U23 Championships. In 2012 Kelsey linked up with Kayla Pratt in the U23 women’s pair and won gold in Trakai, Lithuania. After a stint in the elite women’s eight in 2013, she was selected as part of the women’s four in 2014. The crew produced an incredible performance at the World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, winning gold and setting a new world-best time in the process, beating the previous record by 11 seconds.

In 2015 Kelsey was a part of the women’s eight that made New Zealand history by qualifying for the Olympic Games and winning a silver medal in the process. The crew went on to place 4th at the 2016 Olympics in Rio. In 2017 a new-look combination for the women’s eight saw the crew pick up World Rowing Cup gold and silver in Poznan and Lucerne along with a Henley Royal Regatta win. The women capped off their season with a bronze at the World Rowing Championships in Sarasota.

In 2018 Kelsey rowed again in the women’s eight in a new combination that placed 7th at the World Rowing Championships. This result made 2019 an important year for the New Zealand women’s eight who came back to the international circuit with a point to prove. Another reshuffle of seats put the experienced Kelsey into 4 seat of the most successful women’s eight New Zealand has ever produced, with wins at World Rowing Cup III, Henley Royal Regatta and, for the very first time, at the World Rowing Championships.

Following this success Kelsey came away with a silver medal as part of the women's eight at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Off the water Kelsey is a qualified beautician and has started an interior design course. She has a pet pug called Marnie.