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Australian rowing has been rocked by the sudden passing of four-time Olympic coach Nick Garratt while preparing the under-23 team for the world championships.

Australian rowing has been rocked by the sudden death of four-time Olympics coach Nick Garratt.

Garratt was in Penrith with the Australian under-23 rowing team, overseeing the lightweight women's pair and lightweight men's double scull, when he died suddenly on Monday.

Rowing Australia is working closely to support the team, who are due to travel to the USA for the under-23 world championships next week.

Rowing Australia President Rob Scott said the organisation was deeply shocked and saddened to lose 71-year-old Garratt.

"He was a passionate rowing coach who worked tirelessly to develop and support Australian rowers from grassroots to Olympic level," Scott said.

"He was a greatly loved and admired member of our rowing family and we are all feeling this profound loss.

"Our thoughts are with Nick's family, his athletes and colleagues, both current and past, at this difficult time."

Chair of the Australian Olympic Committee, John Coates also paid tribute, with Garratt coaching at four Olympics from 2000 to 2012.

"This is a shock and the saddest of days for us all. Nick has given so much to rowing at every level and to the Olympic movement in Australia over many decades," Coates said.

"At Olympic level, at national level and at club level, there are many hundreds of rowers, young and mature, who are in his debt as a coach and mentor."

In 2016 Garratt received an AM in the Australia Day honours.