In late 1971, she threw Australian and World Junior records of 61.76 and 62.24 metres, in quick succession but injury kept her out of the 1972 national titles and Olympic Games. Four years later, Rivers returned from retirement and gained Olympic selection for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. Rivers went on to compete in the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics and 1986 Commonwealth Games.
At the 1970 National Championships, she won both the Open and Junior javelin titles. Although still only seventeen, it was her fourth national junior javelin championship win. Her performances earned her a place in the Australian team for the 1970 Commonwealth Games and she comfortably won the gold medal in Edinburgh. She recovered to repeat her Commonwealth Games gold medal win in Auckland but continuing injuries forced her retirement from the sport, at age 22, in 1975. She won the 1982 national championships with a huge national record throw of 69.28 metres and took the silver medal at the Brisbane Commonwealth Games behind team-mate Sue Howland.
