A $1.7 million upgrade to the Reinhold Batschi Men's National Training Centre was opened by Sports Minister Richard Colbeck on Wednesday morning, with the renovation providing Australia's top rowers with improved changing rooms, laundry and better disabled access.

The renovation took place over 2020, but during that time Booth was on the coronavirus frontline at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

Booth, a medical graduate, decided to undertake his internship when the global pandemic struck and led to the Tokyo Games' postponement.

The 30-year-old rower was aiming to add to his silver medal from Rio and had initially deferred his placement to focus on that dream, but like the coronavirus changed the world - it changed his too.

"For me, it took a few weeks to come to terms with the Games not going ahead and realise I was due to start my internship in 2021," Booth said.

"There were some issues with professional residency, you need to start working by the time you've graduated in order to make sure your degree is still valid - so you don't need to retrain or re-certify.

"To make the most of the year, for me it was being able to find a job and start an internship. Unfortunately there wasn't much going in Canberra... but where I trained as a student at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, they had the need for doctors.

"I was able to start my internship in May. From the get-go, it was a bit chaotic going down and starting an internship mid-year - but also in that environment. It was pretty chaotic. Every week, the way the hospital worked changed a lot in response to the Covid crisis."

Booth worked through the brutal second wave that saw Melbourne endure a strict 112-day lockdown.

He managed to balance work and training by setting up a training area in his backyard, with a rowing machine and stationary bike provided by Rowing Australia.

The Victorian Institute of Sport and Melbourne University Boat Club helped him train once restrictions were lifted, but not at the same level as the full-time national program.

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"Royal Melbourne was right in the thick of the second wave. Watching the hospital slowly being eaten up by resources, being dedicated to dealing with the Covid challenge, and all the patients was pretty nerve-racking," Booth said.

"For myself, it was interesting being a part of that, and now I'm through it and back here training again. It's been a big change of scenery, it takes a long time to change your mentality - going from hospital to full-time training.

"I've been here a few weeks and I'm slowly adjusting, also getting the body back into the rigours of training three times a day."

Booth was excited by the National Training Centre's upgrades on his return, saying "it's a big step up to what we had in terms of space."

The $1.7 million renovation, funded by the Federal Government through Sport Australia and AIS, was the biggest upgrade to the elite training facility in 35 years.

It includes gender neutral and disabled bathrooms, allowing female and para-rowing athletes equitable access to the centre - with a lift also installed between the split levels.

Other upgrades comprise of secure locker space for up to 50 athletes, heightened showers, laundry facilities, consultation rooms, improved study space, a 'sleep room' and new roller shutters for the rowing sheds.

Rowing Australia Board Director Sarah Cook said the redevelopment was a key part in sustaining the longevity of the facility.

"To have a facility that is inclusive and state of the art, fitting for modern-day sport and scenarios is really exciting," Cook said.

"It's really important for the rowers to do everything on site, the training volume they do is huge. They train three times a day, six times a week.

"To be here and have access to support staff, rest, eat properly - even now do laundry - all of that has made it possible for this to be a training venue that is world class and able our athletes to train for the world championships and Olympic Games."

Booth added: "The professionalism in terms of being in an improved facility makes you take pride in what you're doing and lifts the standard.

"Certainly it helps us as a group, makes us realize the professional standards we need to have on and off the water. Using great facilities is part of that."