After transforming athlete pathways with CrewLAB, RNZ expands partnership to unlock competitive advantages through unified data and AI-insights

AUCKLAND, New Zealand –  October 29, 2025 – Rowing New Zealand and CrewLAB today announced an expansion of their partnership through the LA 2028 Olympic cycle. 

The expansion comes after CrewLAB and RNZ cracked problems which vexed RNZ for years–scattered data across multiple systems, cumbersome manual selection processes, and the difficulty of keeping RNZ-identified athletes connected across the world. 

From chaotic data to unified clarity

The result was immediate. Real-time visibility replaced clunky spreadsheets. Remote athletes followed and logged training plans while building bonds before arriving at camp. Administrative work that once took weeks now happens automatically.

“After seeing what we’ve accomplished in year one, we can’t imagine going back,” said Simon Wickham, CEO of Rowing New Zealand. “We’re investing more and locking CrewLAB in through the LA 2028 cycle as a key pathway tool because this helps us prepare to compete on the global stage. I’m excited and I think CrewLAB has potential to assist us and other high performance sports in New Zealand in future–beyond talent pathways.”

“It’s a great way for the coaches to see who has been able to do the work, and quickly identify anyone falling behind,” said Janey Charlton, RNZ Athlete Development Manager. “Coaches plug in training programs, and athletes log their workouts against it. It’s really effective for communication and pulling the whole thing together.”

The system now manages hundreds of data points in a comprehensive athlete profile bringing together test records, training adherence and many coaches together seamlessly around common ways of working.

Building lasting excellence on a foundation of data and AI

The expanded partnership will deepen RNZ’s competitive edge by scaling the system to more athletes and coaches while adding capabilities designed for future Olympic cycle athletes.

Over the next three years, both organizations will roll out:

A complete multi-year athlete database combining all camp data and test results across Olympic cycles, creating a unified and longitudinal record of every athlete who’s rowed in RNZ programs

Fully automated reporting that gives always-current insights without manual work, so decisions are based on real data pushed when it’s relevant, not spreadsheets that need constant manual updating

Personalized development plans enabling coaches across New Zealand to collaborate on tailored and optimized athlete improvement plans in a shared environment

AI-powered insights from historical data that will answer questions coaches have asked for decades: What training patterns best predict Olympic success? How could we identify future champions earlier?

“Year one was about proving the system works,” said Simon Hoadley, Head Coach and Founder of CrewLAB. “Now we’re opening the real opportunity. RNZ has complete pictures of all the athletes on the Pathway. That unified dataset is the foundation for AI that will help coaches make better decisions faster – identifying patterns that predict success, spotting emerging talent earlier, and understanding what separates champions from the rest.”

A model for National Governing Bodies

The expanded RNZ partnership demonstrates what happens when a national sporting organization commits to modernizing operations without losing the personal touch that makes coaching transformative. By automating routine work and centralizing data, RNZ has freed resources to focus on athlete development and coach support.

“Sports leaders should be watching what’s happening in New Zealand,” said Dominic Pardini, CrewLAB Founder & CEO. “They see a country that competes at the highest level by investing in systems that make coaches’ lives easier and athlete development systematic. That’s not just smart operations—it’s a competitive advantage.”

About Rowing New Zealand

Rowing New Zealand is the governing body for the sport of rowing in New Zealand, responsible for high-performance programs, talent development, and promotion of rowing at all levels throughout the country.

About CrewLAB

CrewLAB is a coaching software platform designed to build great teams. Founded by coaches who experienced firsthand the challenges of fragmented tools and athlete safety concerns, CrewLAB’s mission is to champion lifelong enjoyment and achievement in sports. For more information, visit crewlab.io.

Media Contact: info@crewlab.io Simon Hoadley, Head Coach & Founder +1 (310) 614-4892