The University of Victoria rowing club had its first significant Olympic results at Montreal in 1976. Ironically, many top rowers from Victoria did not get to compete in the 1980 Olympics because of the political boycott of Moscow. Nonetheless, by the early 1980s more and more of the Uvic rowers were placing well in numerous important regattas nationally and internationally. Astonishingly there were 20 rowers from Victoria at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and 16 rowers qualified for the Canadian rowing team at the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Kirsten competed for Canada in rowing in the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Games. She is a double Olympic Gold Medallist from the 1992 Games and World Champion in 1991 at the Rowing World Championships in both the 4- and 8+.