A giant crocodile has been spotted near the rowing event at the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, reigniting concerns about the safety of athletes. The reptile, estimated to be up to three metres long, was spotted on the banks of the Fitzroy River near the North Rockhampton Golf Course. The area is just a few kilometres from the venue for the 2032 Olympic rowing and canoeing events.
The sighting has caused concern in the Australian sporting community. Ray Ebert, one of Australia’s leading rowing figures, called the discovery a wake-up call, questioning the safety of athletes competing in the river.
He noted that this is not the first time that a crocodile has been spotted in the area. Two other crocodile sightings were reported in December 2024, and more have recently been reported closer to the proposed Olympic route. However, Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has defended the choice of Rockhampton as the host city, saying the Fitzroy River has a long history of rowing and is a world-class facility.
Environmental authorities have confirmed that they are investigating the case, although they had not received an official report about the recent crocodile sighting.
Another concern is that the area is not automatically designated as a crocodile-free zone. John Lever, a crocodile expert and owner of a crocodile farm near Rockhampton, believes that because of its proximity to the Olympic site, any crocodiles discovered in the area should be removed. In addition to the presence of crocodiles, the Fitzroy River has also faced criticism for its currents, flooding and technical conditions for the event. Despite these objections, the Queensland government announced in September that it had successfully passed an independent technical assessment.