Nine athletes and coaches with links to Sydney University Boat Club and the University of Sydney’s Elite Athlete Program are representing Australia at the 2026 World Rowing Championships.
Racing began on Monday, 24 August, at the historic Bosbaan course in Amsterdam and continues until Sunday, 30 August. The championships have attracted more than 830 athletes from 64 nations, competing across 23 boat classes.
Sydney University Boat Club is represented throughout the Australian Rowsellas team, from the women’s eight and quad scull to the men’s squad and para-rowing program.
Jaime Ford will race in the women’s eight. The Sydney University Boat Club athlete and University of Sydney Elite Athlete Program alumna arrives in Amsterdam as part of a crew that claimed silver at World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne.
Current University of Sydney student and EAP athlete Emily Sheppard will make her senior World Championships debut in the women’s quadruple scull. She joins Olympians Annabelle McIntyre and Jean Mitchell, together with Romy Cantwell, in the Australian boat.
Tara Rigney will contest the women’s single scull. A University of Sydney, EAP and SUBC alumna.Rigney earned bronze at World Rowing Cup III and will line up in one of the championships’ most highly anticipated events.
SUBC’s Sophie Houston is in Amsterdam as a travelling reserve for the Australian women’s team.
Wallis Russell, another University of Sydney, EAP and SUBC alumna, will make her senior World Championships debut in the PR3 mixed coxed four.
On the men’s side, SUBC athletes Hamish Danks and Jackson Kench are travelling reserves for the Australian team. Both are University of Sydney and EAP alumni.
Marcus Della Marta will make his senior World Championships debut in the men’s quadruple scull, racing with Johnson Daubney, Jackson Free and Cormac Kennedy-Leverett.
SUBC Head Coach Tom Laurich is also on international duty, co-coaching the Australian men’s four alongside Noel Donaldson.
The University and SUBC communities congratulate Jaime, Emily, Tara, Sophie, Wallis, Hamish, Marcus, Jackson and Tom on their selection and wish them every success on the Bosbaan.
Racing runs until 30 August, with medal events beginning on Thursday, 27 August. Live video, audio, results and race tracking are available through the official World Rowing Championships website.
