Susannah Lutze is a rower who was awarded a Tier 2 Scholarship within the 2024 Sport Australia Hall of Fame Scholarship and Mentoring Program.
Susannah was born in Irvine, Scotland in 2004 with a case of unilateral Talipes Equinovarus; also known as clubfoot. From three weeks of age, she began four years of treatment to correct the congenital disability. The condition, although mostly corrected has left Susannah with extremely limited ankle mobility and muscle atrophy in her left leg, allowing her to qualify under the PR3 categorisation in Para-Rowing.
Susannah and her family moved from Scotland to Australia in 2008. Throughout her childhood, she played multiple sports, including tennis, hockey, dance, swimming and netball. However, due to her condition, she struggled repeatedly with ankle and knee injuries. In 2020, she picked up rowing after moving schools and found a passion for the sport, leading her to continue in the club environment.
Susannah was recently selected for her first Australian Para Rowing team and travelled to compete internationally for the first time in June 2023. Her crew won two gold medals and now looks towards qualifying the boat for the 2024 Paris Paralympics and the World Rowing Championships in Belgrade Serbia, taking place in September 2023.
“Being awarded a SAHOF Scholarship is a huge honour and an opportunity I am extremely grateful for. For me, it represents an appreciation of the hard work that I have put in behind the scenes to get to where I am today. I believe that the unwavering and continued support from the Program will help me thrive towards my future goals of competing for Australia at a Paralympic Games” – Susannah Lutze on being selected as a 2024 Tier 2 Scholarship Holder
Honours & Achievements
- 2023: Gavirate International Para Rowing Regatta, 1st in PR3 Mix 4+
- 2023: Australian National Rowing Championships, 2nd in PR3 Women’s Interstate Scull – VIC Representative
- 2023: Australian National Rowing Championships, 3rd in PR3 Women’s Open Scull
- 2023: Australian National Rowing Championships, 2nd in PR3 Mix 2x
- 2022: Australian National Rowing Championships, 1st in PR3 Mix 4+
Social Links | Instagram: @susannahlutze
