Canberra rower Cara Grzeskowiak admits she is still fine-tuning her technique but it was her "unique" power that helped her clinch the Australian under-21s single scull title on Thursday.
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Just two years after rowing for the first time, 18-year-old Grzeskowiak defied expectations to win the single scull race at Penrith, prompting her coach Rod Goodall to label her a future Olympian.
Grzeskowiak's unexpected gold medal capped a superb day for Canberra competitors at the national championships.
Grzeskowiak also collected bronze in the under-23 double scull while Luke Letcher won the under-23s double sculls and took silver in the single sculls.
ACT Academy of Sport rower Sarah Davies finished just behind Grzeskowiak in the single scull.
Grzeskowiak started rowing less than two years ago after switching to the sport following stints as a swimmer and equestrian.
"She just has a unique power, for someone to go so quickly from not knowing how to row at all to winning a national title is unusual. But she's focused and has a big motor," Goodall said.
"Once she builds her strength and bulk and gets into an academy program ... an Olympic Games is definitely not out of her reach once she gets those skills and strength to represent Australia at that level.
"There's a fair way to go to get there, but she's certainly on the way and she could achieve it."
Grzeskowiak's impressive performance could launch her international career.
She will find out next week if she has been picked in an Australian under-21s team to go into camp in the coming weeks.
Born in Germany and raised in England before moving to Australia, Grzeskowiak hopes to row for Australia at international regattas in the coming years.
Grzeskowiak is also juggling an economics and maths double degree and the teenager will race in the under-23 quad scull on Friday and the junior eight on Saturday.
"One of our family friends said to come down so I just joined the Go Row program less than two years ago," Grzeskowiak said.
"My technique is pretty awful to be honest, but I've got the power to get through the races. This is great [winning the under-21s national title], but there's a lot more to learn and improve on.
"I tried cycling as well, but I just want to keep competing in rowing and see where I can go. It feels pretty amazing [to be national champion], I can't believe it."
The regatta at Penrith will continue until this weekend with Canberra rower Kim Crow set to launch her world championship defence in the World Cup event.
Crow beat Sally Kehoe by almost five seconds in the senior national championship in an impressive outing before taking on Olympic champion Mirka Knapkova this weekend.
