By Rupert Guinness with the Rowsellas in Shanghai
The Men’s Quad Sculls and Women’s Single Sculls are two events at the 2025 World Rowing Championships at Shanghai that represent the start of a re-build for Australia.
With the Men’s Double Scull, the selection of who will represent Australia in the two boats have been made with an eye firmly on the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Australia has a rich history in sculling – from the Single, to Double and Quad – and Rowing Australia are keen to add more chapters of success to that heritage.
Whatever the outcome for Australia in the sculling events of the Shanghai World Championships, the reward will still be there in experience and knowledge to work on.
Men's Quadruple Sculls
Rowing Australia has realistic hopes for the Men’s Quadruple Sculls in the 2025 World Championships in Shanghai, considering it is a new crew with vision on the future.
However, the event is still regarded as a critical step in the regeneration of Australia’s sculling program. So, for that reason the performance of the boat this year is important.
Gen 32 Coach David Fraumano is still excited about how the Quad will fare, with it containing three world championship debutants in Nicholas Pender, Johnson Daubney and Jackson Free, with Alexander Rossi whose first world championships was in 2023.
Fraumano’s excitement is based on their European campaign that saw improvement.
In the World Cups at Varese and Lucerne, they placed ninth and fifth respectively; and then at the Royal Henley Regatta the Quad made the Final of the Queen Mother Challenge Cup against Great Britain before returning to Australia to resume training.
“It's a very hot division and we're very young,” Fraumano said. “We have shown some promise in racing [at Varese and in Lucerne] in June, July; but that was a long time ago.”
Fraumano said that the Quad Sculls is a “complicated” boat that takes time for a crew to master. “It takes experience in the boat, which we don't have yet,” Fraumano said.
“But we do have an honest crew who try and work hard, and I believe over the [Olympic Games] cycle Australia will be able to produce a sound consistently performing Quad.”
Asked what success at the Shanghai world championships would look like, Fraumano said: “A medal for this group right now … that is a far distant chance.
“The second goal is an [Olympic Games] qualification position. Obviously, other than that there is doing your best race … a best race in the B Final is really what we rate.”
Men’s Quadruple Sculls
Bow: Nicholas Blackman
Two-seat: Johnson Daubney
Three-seat: Jackson Free
Stroke: Alexander Rossi (#917)
Coach: David Fraumano
Provisional race schedule
Sunday September 21 - Heats
Tuesday September 23 - Semis
Thursday September 25 - Finals
Women's Single Sculls
Romy Cantwell, Australia’s Single Sculls entrant at the 2025 World Championships, has a bright future that will hopefully shine come the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
However, heading into her first World Championships in Shanghai, she still comes with a hefty load of credentials to back the optimism that is placed in her potential.
Cantwell’s arrival on the international stage was heralded earlier this year when she won Bronze in the Women’s Single Sculls at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
This followed her sixth place in the Women’s Double Sculls at the 2024 edition.
Her domestic record is equally impressive, with multiple Australian titles.
On the eve of her senior titles debut, Cantwell has all to gain, if only from the experience; but her competitive drive will not stop her from reaching for the stars.
Coach Jamie McDonald believes she will leave a mark; but won’t place the bar too high.
“She has settled onto the course here and the conditions,” he said. “Each day, she’s been sharper, building strong rhythm, and positive about competing on the world stage.
On her step up to the senior world championships McDonald said: “This is absolutely a big second step for the year. We are very aware of the competition, but she's earned her spot to be here. Romy deserves to be here, and she is on pace to be competitive.
“It's a really tough pool, but she’s going to stamp her authority as best she can.”
Asked what will deem her world title a success, McDonald said: “If she can get into the B Final would be an incredible achievement, or making the C final with a strong result in the C final would be a significant achievement. But this is about building on a campaign.
“This is not the pinnacle of what she's aiming for, or for what rowing Australia are working towards. This is also about giving her experience of the highest level.”
Women’s Single Sculls
Sculler: Romy Cantwell
Coach: Jamie McDonald
Provisional race schedule
Monday September 22 - Heats
Friday September 26 - Semis
Sunday September 28 - Finals
How to Follow the 2025 World Rowing Championships
The first races will start September 21 at 12:05 AEST. The medal races start September 25 at 16:05 AEST.
Here is how to follow the event on mobile, tablet, or desktop:
The provisional time table for the events can be found here and entries for all the events can be found here.
Live race tracker and LIVE audio will be available for ALL races on www.worldrowing.com.
LIVE video streaming will be available on the World Rowing website, Foxtel, and Kayo Sports on Sunday September 21 from 12:00 AEST. The video streaming will start 5 minutes before the first race.