Rupert Guinness4 August 2026, 9:01:17 am AEST6 min read

2026 World Rowing Under 19 Championships Preview

By Rupert Guinness, Australian Rowing Teams Media Manager

Rowing Australia (RA) is excited by the opportunities awaiting the “next generation” of Rowsellas at the 2026 World Rowing Under 19 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from 6-9 August to both deliver strong performances and gain invaluable international experience for the future.

The team chosen for the regatta showcases a blend of emerging talent, returning internationals, and athletes who have impressed throughout the domestic season and selection process, a system made possible through more than a decade of unwavering support from Hancock Prospecting and Rowing Australia Patron, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO.

From trials and selections, through to the big stage of international competitions like the 2026 World Rowing Under 19 Championships, Hancock Prospecting’s investment is central to Australian crews being able to prepare, perform and succeed globally.

RA also acknowledges the significant support from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), the Australian Sports Commission (ASC), and the Australian Government, whose investment enables athletes, coaches and programs to perform and represent Australia with pride.

“The Pathways program is only possible through the support from Mrs Rinehart and Hancock Prospecting,” RA Head of Pathways Jason Lane said.

“Their commitment to developing the next generation of Rowsellas ensures these young athletes have the opportunities and critical resources needed to help them reach their potential on the international stage.

“We are also extremely grateful for the ongoing investment and partnership of the AIS, the ASC and the Australian Government through Minister for Sport Anika Wells.”

For Plovdiv, RA selected crews for the Women’s Fours, Women’s Pairs and Women’s Double Sculls based on the threshold standards met during the selection trials in April. The focus of RA’s High Performance and Pathway programs continues to be the development of its Under 19 talent pool on the world stage where athletes and crews meet those standards.

“Selection was based on whether crews demonstrate the level required to meet our selection thresholds for international competitiveness,” Lane said.

“This year the three women's crews met the standards to represent Australia.

“However, our focus remains on supporting and developing talent across both the men's and women's pathways.

“To enable that, RA also facilitated a mixed gender Under 19 team that raced at the 2026 International Rowing Challenge international regatta in the US in July."

From the 2026 Under 19 Australian team, nine members will make their debut in ‘green and gold,’ while Patricia Boland (SUBC/Loreto Normanhurst/NSW) returns for a second year following a strong performance in the Double Scull at the 2025 World Rowing Under 19 Championships.

Boland is now a member of the Women’s Quadruple Scull for Plovdiv alongside Summer Phillips (SUBC/Pymble Ladies’ College/NSW), Elouise Stephens (Mosman RC/NSW), and Elyse Coates (SUBC/NSW). Based in NSW, the crew is coached by Alan Bennett.

Making their international debut in the Women’s Four is a composite crew coached by Tom Gatti. The boat features Oceane Jeannerat, Charlotte Hansen-Knarhoi and Olivia Hansen-Knarhoi of Fremantle Rowing Club (WA), and Stella Wandel of West Australian Rowing Club (WA), who claimed gold at the 2026 Australian Rowing Championships.

The third Australian boat is the Women’s Pair with the Victorian combination of Piper Hallam (Firbank Grammar/VIC) and Emma Peele (Mercantile/St Catherine’s School, Toorak/VIC) coached by Will Achermann who won in the event at the National Selection Regatta.

The crew selections across both sweep and sculling disciplines were made with a clear focus on building combinations capable of competing with the world’s best - a standard driven by the expectations of a system supported at all levels by Hancock Prospecting.

After selection each crew began training for the World Rowing Under 19 Championships in their respective home states of NSW, Western Australia and Victoria. From mid-July, all three crews continued their training and preparation at the AIS European Training Centre (ETC) in Gavirate, Italy.

Before the team travelled from Gavirate to Plovdiv on Sunday, 2 August, Lane said: “Preparation has been very positive. The athletes have come together well and have built strong cohesion through the campaign.

“Training has focused on refining racing speed and ensuring the crews are ready to perform when racing begins.”

The overall objective of the young Australian representatives at Plovdiv is to both compete among the world’s best at the Under 19 level and with one eye on the future, garnered from the invaluable experience that the regatta will provide them.

“It's a combination,” Lane said when asked what the main objective is.

“The Under 19 World Championships are an incredibly important development opportunity for these athletes, giving them exposure to the highest level of international competition in their age group.

“At the same time, we haven't travelled simply for experience.

“The athletes and coaches have prepared to be competitive, and our aim is to have crews racing deep into the regatta, making A-Finals and putting themselves in contention for the best possible results.”

Lane said athletes in this Under 19 Australian team are expected to be among those who will develop through RA’s Under 23 Pathways system and then feature in the Senior selection frame for Brisbane 2032.

“These athletes are at an important stage of the High Performance pathway,” Lane said.

“Competing at Under 19 World Championships provides exposure to an international racing environment, teaches athletes what is required to succeed on the world stage and helps build the skills and resilience needed for future senior success.

“Brisbane 2032 is some years away, but many of these athletes are at an age where they could realistically progress through the Under 23 and Senior systems and be part of Australia's long-term Olympic plans.”

For now, Lane said RA’s attention on this group’s development is on the 2026 World Rowing Under 19 Championships at Plovdiv, and for RA that means their focus this week is on the three Australian crews racing there.

“World Championships are always a significant step in an athlete's journey,” Lane said.

“We look forward to seeing them test themselves against the best Under 19 athletes in the world. We know they'll represent Australia with pride both on and off the water.”