After missing out on selection and being named as a reserve for the 2012 London Olympics, Pragnell took a year out of the sport. He returned to win gold in the men’s eight at the 2014 World Cup in Sydney as well as taking bronze in the four and gold in the pairs at the Australian Championships. He was subsequently included in the men’s four that went on to win World Championship bronze as well as two World Cup medals in 2014.
Pragnell, who hails from Queanbeyan but is based in Sydney, started rowing in 2001 and was making his international debut just three years later. In 2007 he was fourth in the coxed pair at the World Championships, a position he was able to better by one and take bronze at the 2008 World Championships.