2026 Australian & Oceania Beach Sprints Championships Day 2 Wrap

Friday racing at the Australian and Oceania Beach Sprints Championships (AOBSC) has delivered more incredible performances and highlighted the future Australian stars of beach sprint rowing, with the next generation of rowers competing for a place in Australia’s Youth Olympic Games team. 

Five event categories featured on Day 2 of the AOBSC, generously supported by Experience Gold Coast - the Under 23 Men’s and Women’s Beach Sprint Solo, the Open Mixed Beach Sprint Double Scull and the Youth Olympic Games Men’s and Women’s Beach Sprint Solos, used to determine Australia’s representatives at the 2026 Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.

Rowing Australia also acknowledges the vital support of the Australian Institute of Sport, the Australian Sports Commission, the Australian Government and Commonwealth Games Australia.

Among these athletes are current and future Rowsellas, including those on the current High Performance pathway, a program that directly benefits from the continued support of Hancock Prospecting and Rowing Australia Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO.

Joining the crowds at Currumbin Creek, Gold Coast Councillors Gail O’Neill and Bob La Castra witnessed all the action from the shore.

Speaking on the event, Cr O’Neill stated “It's a great thrill to attend the Australian & Oceania Beach Sprints Championships and witness the sheer speed and intensity of coastal rowing up close on the shores of Currumbin Creek.

“The competition was fierce, and it was fantastic to see athletes from across the Pacific competing in the Championships, following the success of the Oceania Training Camp held earlier this week, developing Pacific athletes on their journey to Olympic representation.”

Cr La Castra, who is Chair of the Economy, Tourism and Events Committee, shared his support for the AOBSC and the excitement built around the coastal rowing format.

"The Gold Coast is a world-class destination for major sporting events, and we're thrilled to be hosting the Australian & Oceania Beach Sprints Championships at Currumbin Creek, ahead of the discipline’s debut at the LA28 Olympic Games. Events like this showcase not only the incredible talent of our athletes, but also everything our city has to offer as a premier events destination."

The Men’s and Women’s Youth Olympic Games Beach Sprint Solo trials put a spotlight on the future stars of coastal rowing, with competitors vying for a place on Australia’s Youth Olympic Games team set to compete in Dakar, Senegal in October-November this year.

Alexander Watt (University of Queensland, QLD) and Camilla Griffin (Canberra Girls Grammar, ACT) came out victorious in the Men’s and Women’s categories respectively, and will now represent Australia at the Youth Olympic Games.

In attendance to watch the youth rowers and present the winners’ medals to Watt and Griffin was the Australian Youth Olympic Games Team Chef de Mission Kenny Wallace OAM. Wallace, himself a three-time Olympian and Olympic champion in Canoe Sprint, was excited at the opportunities presented to Australia’s Beach Sprint Rowers at the Youth Olympic Games.

“It’s incredibly exciting to have Beach Sprint rowing included in the program for this year’s Youth Olympic Games. For athletes like those competing today to have a clear pathway to represent at the Games is fantastic and I congratulate all those who have put in the work during competition at this beautiful location.”

In the Under 23 Men’s Beach Sprint Solo, Sam Forbes (University of Queensland, QLD) has continued his incredible form winning the event after qualifying fastest in the time trials. Forbes, who won the Open Men’s Beach Sprint Solo and the Under 23 Mixed Beach Sprint Double Scull, has now added a third gold medal to his haul for the Championships.

In the Under 23 Women’s Beach Sprint Solo, Zara Turner (ANU, ACT) has claimed gold after going through fastest in the time trials. From there, she continued to better her time in the quarter-final, semi-final and final, where she claimed the win with her fastest time, 02:50.92.

The Open Mixed Beach Sprint Double Scull was won by Oscar Scheel-Gamborg and Isabella Scammell. The duo, who also competed together for Australia in the Filippi Lido Beach Sprint Regatta earlier this year, were fastest in qualifying and never let up through the knockout stages, winning the A-Final over Catherine Khan and Daniel Johnston with a time of 02:16.67.

Racing continues on Saturday with Under 17 and Under 19 Beach Sprint Solo categories along with the Under 19 and Open Mixed Beach Sprint Coxed Quad Sculls.

How to Follow the 2026 Australian & Oceania Beach Sprints Rowing Championships

To stay up to date with the latest results from the AOBSC, visit the event page on Rowing Manager here.

For the latest event highlights, follow Rowing Australia’s social media channels.

Photo Credit: Brad Redfern Photography