Launceston's Alexandra Viney and her Australian crewmates finished just outside the medals in fourth place in the A-final of the PR3 mixed coxed four at the Paralympic Games.
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With the best qualifiers handed preferential lanes, the finalists finished in their qualification order as multiple world and reigning Paralympic champion GB won by 11 seconds in 7:09.08 from fellow heat winner USA (7:20.13) and France (7:27.04) claiming bronze having set the Games' best time in Saturday's repechage.
The Aussie crew stroked by 29-year-old Launceston-born Viney and featuring Thomas Birtwhistle, James Talbot (both NSW), Nikki Ayers and cox Renae Domaschenz (both ACT) clocked 7:34.73.
The Australians had finished second to USA in their heat on Friday before storming to victory in Saturday's repechage at Tokyo's Sea Forest Waterway.
Due to COVID restrictions, the Australians have had limited training time together, with the crew living in three different states.
Viney began rowing at Launceston Grammar, where she competed with Tokyo Olympic rowing reserve Ciona Wilson, and is now a member of Mercantile RC having moved to Melbourne to study at Deakin University.
Left with impairments to her left elbow, forearm and hand by a car accident in 2010, Viney began her journey as a para-athlete in November 2018 and a year later helped the Aussie PR3 mixed coxed four finish first in the national championships, second at the Gavirate International Para Regatta and fourth at her first world championships.
Launceston's Todd Hodgetts will be the next Tasmanian in action in the Japanese capital when he seeks to add to his gold and bronze medals from two previous Paralympic campaigns in the F20 shot put final at 8.05pm on Tuesday.
Forth's Deon Kenzie follows at 8.15pm on Saturday with the T38 1500m now a straight final.
THE STORY SO FAR:
- Alexandra Viney (rowing, PR3 mixed coxed four) 2nd in heat, 1st in repechage, 4th in final
