Australian Under 23 team bolstered with talented US-based selections

By Rupert Guinness, Australian Rowing Teams Media Manager

Rowing Australia selectors have identified and selected the nation's top performers from the United States collegiate system to join the Australian Under 23 team, in a move to bolster the depth of the talent pool for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The Under 23 team’s main goal for this year is the Under 23 World Championships at Duisburg in Germany from July 23-26, with the longer-term goal of RA’s High-Performance Pathways Program to provide development opportunities for these athletes.

For the 2026 Australian Under 23 team, RA held selection trials for its US-based Under 23 athletes on Lake Carnegie in Princeton, New Jersey on June 10-12 after a 10-day training camp. But many of the full Australian Under 23 team should be in the selection frame for Brisbane 2032.

The 14 US-based athletes selected (7 men and 7 women) hail from five States - NSW (7), Queensland (3), Victoria (2), South Australia (1) and Western Australia (1). They also come from seven US Universities - University of Texas (3), Princeton University (3), University of California Berkeley (2), Dartmouth College (1), Harvard University (1), Stanford University (1) and University of Tennessee (1); and two Australian Universities – University of Queensland Boat Club (1) and Melbourne University Boat Club (1).

The US-based squad will continue training in Princeton before traveling to Italy to join the Australian-based Under 23 squad that was named in April to prepare for the Under 23 World Championships. The Women’s Pair and Four have been selected, but some athletes and crews in the Men’s sweep squad will undergo final trials for boat selections on Lake Varese from June 30 to July 2.

The strategic integration of the Australian and US-based systems at this level is a first for RA. It is aimed at maximising its reach for the best potential Under 23 talents available; and in turn, to optimise Australia’s ability to perform against the best on the biggest stage.

This key pillar of the Performance Pathways Program reflects the unwavering support from Hancock Prospecting and the enduring commitment of Rowing Australia Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO. From trials to crew selection, and the big stage of international competition, Hancock Prospecting’s investment plays a pivotal role in enabling Australian crews 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 through Minister for Sport Anika Wells, whose investment enables athletes, coaches and programs to perform on the world stage and represent our nation with pride.

RA Head of Pathways, Jason Lane lauded the integration of the Australian and US systems. The US collegiate system provides a large source of added talent to choose from. In 2026 alone, 97 Australians were involved in NCAA and IRA programs in the US, of whom 52 competed at championship level and 21 raced in medal winning crews.

“This is the first integration of our US based athletes in this way, into combined crews with our Australian-based athletes” Lane said.

“It’s exciting that we have got such a talented group of athletes to develop.

“We are really looking forward to seeing how they perform on the world stage.”

Lane said the standard across the group in the recent US trials was exceptionally high.

A total of 12 men and 14 women contested the US selection trials, with seat racing held in both coxed and coxless Fours under ideal conditions. Each day brought warm temperatures and a gentle tail breeze, allowing for consistent and competitive racing.

“Competition for selection – and ultimately places on the Australian Under 23 team - was fierce; underscoring the depth of talent we have,” Lane said.

“Encouragingly, all of the athletes demonstrated clear improvements over the past 12 months, reflecting the effectiveness of their preparation and commitment.”

Lane said the future of Australian rowing hinges on the Under 23 program that focuses on identifying and developing athletes for future Senior campaigns.

From the Under 23s,many of the squad are aiming to graduate to the Senior squad and continue their development at the Hancock Prospecting National Training Centre (women) in Penrith or Reinhold Batschi National Training Centre (men) in Canberra over the coming years.

“It’s a really important feeder for our National Training Centre [NTC] athletes,” Lane said of the Under 23 group.

“It’s an extremely valuable step in our Performance Pathways Program.

“After the 2024 Paris Olympics and Paralympics, a lot of our Under 23s in that cycle later transitioned to the NTCs. We are expecting the same thing after the Los Angeles Games.”

Lane said the 2026 Australian Under 23 squad represents an evolving group from which the core of Australia’s rowing team for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics will be selected.

However, Lane said it is possible that some of the Under 23 squad could also push for selection in the Australian team for the 2028 Games in Los Angeles: “This squad is essentially the basis of our Brisbane ‘32’ team; but saying that, there may be the odd wild card in there for ‘LA’ [2028] too.”

To view the full US-based Australian Under 23 Team - Click Here
To view the full Aus-based Australian Under 23 Team - Click Here