Reinhold Batschi


Reinhold Batschi OAM is a former Romanian rower and leading Australian rowing coach. He was the inaugural Head Coach of the Australian Institute of Sport's rowing program and Head Coach of the Australian Olympic rowing teams from 1980 to 2000.

Rowing career

Batschi became involved in rowing as a result of Romania's compulsory national service. Representing Romania as a rower, Batschi won a bronze medal in the men's coxed fours at the 1967 European Rowing Championships. At the 1968 Mexico Olympics, his crew the men's coxed four finished seventh. He retired from competitive rowing in 1969.

Coaching career

Batschi competed a sports studies degree at the National Academy of Physical Education and Sport in Bucharest, Romania. In 1970, he became at coach at his rowing club in Bucharest. Batschi them moved to West Germany to become Head Coach at the City of West Berlin Rowing Centre. He coached the West German team to medals at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.
In 1979, he moved to Australia with his wife Florie and two daughters to take up the appointment of National Coaching Director for the Australian Rowing Council. In 1984, he was appointed inaugural Head Coach of the Australian Institute of Sport's rowing program. He held this position until his retirement in September 2007.
In 1986, Batschi coached the Australian men's eight which won the gold medal at the 1986 World Rowing Championships. This was the first and only time Australia won the men's eight at either the Olympic Games or at a World Championship.
Upon retirement in 2007 he was acknowledged for "his pioneering work included a national program for technique development, a coach development program that was the forerunner of a national coach accreditation scheme, a program of international competition for up-and-coming rowers, improved selection procedures, and year-round training".

International representative coaching medal record

Olympic Games

Head Coach of the Australian Olympic rowing teams from 1980 to 2000. During his period as Head Coach, Australia won 16 Olympic rowing medals. He only directly coached teams in 1984 and 1988 Games.
Head Coach in 1991 and 1999 World Championships. Results for crews coached at World Championships: