And as Sarah Hawe and Ciona Wilson contemplate a future without freezing dawn training sessions, their national coach has urged both to take their time over the decision.

A member of the women's four crew which won two golds and a silver medal at the last three world championships, Hawe was switched to the eight for Tokyo, eventually finishing fifth as her former crewmates became Olympic champions.

Wilson was named as a reserve for the sweep squad, subject to the same vigorous training schedule but ultimately not needed in the Olympic competition.

Both felt they were leaving Japan with unfinished business.

"If everything had gone smoothly last year it probably would have been the end of the line but I'm not happy leaving on that result," said Hawe, who rows with Huon and turned 34 on the day of the Opening Ceremony.

"I'm not sure what the near or distant future looks like yet. I'm undecided."

A fourth-generation member of Tamar Rowing Club, Wilson said it had been an exhausting journey.

"It's been a very long four years, especially with the extra year," she said.

"On reflection, I would do things a bit different but you cannot change time and I'm very fortunate to have had this experience to go to a Games."

The 29-year-old, who has podiumed in eights at world championship and world cup level, is getting married in November and is yet to decide her rowing future.

"I think I will still have something to do with Tamar Rowing Club but there's a lot of things to reflect upon and people I need to talk to about the next few years.

"I cannot imagine life without rowing. I kind of forget what my life was like before rowing. It's something I will be passionate about for the rest of my life in some way or another."

Hawe said whatever she decided to do, it was satisfying to know she will forever be an Olympian.

"It is nice to be part of that special club. For so many young athletes it's what you aspire to achieve and when that started looking like a reality it was great, but the next goal was to try and get an Olympic medal and that would still be the dream."

Meanwhile, John Keogh, who has been women's head coach for Rowing Australia since 2016 after stints with national programs in Canada and Great Britain, had strong advice for all returning Olympians.

"People have to reflect on their time in Tokyo and make decisions on what is best whether they are going on for another three years or retiring," he said.

"You let the dust settle and give athletes a bit of space and it might take two or three months to make a decision.

"A lot of athletes did not quite get to where they wanted to go, they need time to reflect on that, that's part of the process and there's a lot of emotions involved. As days go by you start to get a bit more perspective. It's a natural process and each person is different."

Launceston-born and a former North Esk Rowing Club member, Keogh said the two Tasmanians in Tokyo could be proud of their contributions.

"Ciona has done a great job. Reserve is a thankless position but she did a really good job for the team and I'm glad she got to race in a spares race.

"Sarah's obviously upset and disappointed because she was in the four for a couple of years and won two world championships in it.

"She had surgery to her shoulder which was challenging but that's all part of it. I hope she goes on because she's a good athlete."

Keogh said Rowing Australia will conduct a thorough review of the performance in Tokyo, where it came second on the medal tally to New Zealand, before making decisions about the future, including whether to stick with the centralised system of National Training Centres in Sydney and Canberra.