Rowing's next generation ready to make their mark at U23 World Championships

Australia’s rising rowing stars have touched down in Poznan, Poland, ready to take on the world’s best at the 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.

With 11 crews entered and momentum from a strong domestic season, Rowing Australia’s Pathways team has their sights set on building on the success of recent years.

For the past two Championships, every Australian boat has made an A or B Final, an achievement Rowing Australia Head of Pathways Jason Lane hopes to replicate.

“This group has really kicked on,” Lane said. “We’ve seen real improvement across the board and after a great training block at the AIS European Training Centre and strong preparation in Poznan, everyone is ready to go.”

Here’s a look at the crews set to wear the green and gold on Lake Malta.

U23 Men’s Eight – Chasing history again

After winning Bronze last year, the Australian U23 Men’s Eight returns with six athletes from that crew, including James Frederikson, Jeremy Beale, Andrew Weightman, Ed Nutt, Ben Scott and coxswain Jonathan Cooke.

Ben Scott and Drew Weightman will once again line up together in this year’s Eight.

Their fathers, Rob Scott OLY (former Rowing Australia President) and Dave Weightman OLY, famously raced to a Silver medal in the Men’s Pair at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.

Joining them are Darcy Watter, who finished fourth in the Coxed Four at the 2024 U23 Worlds, and the Princeton-based Cashman twins, Daniel and Matthew, who boast strong form from the American collegiate season.

“This is one of the deepest Men’s Eight fields we’ve seen,” Lane said. “But these guys are ready for anything.”

U23 Women’s Eight – Eyeing a breakthrough

The Australian U23 Women’s Eight narrowly missed the podium in 2024, but three athletes from that crew return to make a run at history: Sarah Marriott, Lucy Searle and cox Summer Kellett. 

The American college system is well represented, with Searle, Chloe Cooper and stroke seat Imogen Grey all rowing at the University of Texas, with Theodora Coull and Hannah Richardson campaigning at Tennessee.

Sydney University’s Tiffany Botha and Mercantile Rowing Club’s Anna Morrison round out a sharp crew brimming with international experience and ambition.

“We’re putting our best foot forward,” Grey said. “We’ve had a shorter campaign than some, but we’re ready to fight from stroke one and we're all hungry to hit the podium for the first time in the event.”

U23 Women’s Four – The dark horse

After three straight Bronze medals in this event, this crew features top domestic talent.

Australian Rowing Championships (#ARC25) Women’s U23 Pair champions Remy McKay and Laura Sypher team up with Olivia Nattey and Zara Lavery in a crew that was named early and has built cohesion through months of preparation.

McKay, the daughter of Oarsome Foursome legend and Rowing Australia Life Member Mike McKay OAM, brings a proud family legacy to the boat.

“They’ve had time to gel,” Lane said. “That could be a big advantage in a high-pressure regatta.”

U23 Men’s Four – Turning Silver into Gold

With two consecutive Silver medals in this event, Australia sends a fresh crew to Poland determined to go one better.

Joseph Lynch and Joshua Wilson, part of the World Champion U19 Coxed Four in 2022, anchor a talented quartet that includes other top domestic performers.

The crew shows serious promise and a hunger to bring Gold home.

U23 Women’s Quad – Depth and determination

Three members of last year’s fifth-placed U23 Women’s Quad return: Eliza Bridgefoot, Sophie Malcolm, and Sarah Fahd, joined by debutant Olivia Yeates.

Each sculler earned multiple medals at #ARC25, and the crew will look to their chemistry and domestic dominance to step up internationally.

U23 Men’s Quad – Youth meets firepower

Stroke seat William Rogers is just 18 but brings valuable international experience from the 2024 World Rowing U19 Championships.

He joins Adam Holland, Hamish Danks, and Samuel Mounter, the top three finishers in the U23 Single at #ARC25, in a powerhouse combination.

“We’ve got two big boys in the middle [Holland and Danks],” Rogers said.

“The strength is there; we just need to come together and row as one.”

U23 Women’s Single Sculls – The proven powerhouse

Romy Cantwell has emerged as a dominant force in the Single Ccull this year, balancing university studies with more than 20 hours of training a week.

She placed sixth in the U23 Double Sculls last year and now takes on the world solo, backed by her relentless work ethic and racing grit.

U23 Men’s Pair – Quiet contenders

Sydney Rowing Club’s Alec Hoskin and Queensland’s Montgomery Martin may not carry international accolades, yet, but the Pair brings serious talent and drive.

Hoskin narrowly missed a medal in last year’s U23 Coxed Four, and this year marks Martin’s international debut.

U23 Women's Pair - Sights on podium

Sophie Barr and Isabella Scammell will be strong contenders for a medal in the Women’s Pair.

Barr, a current student-athlete at Harvard brings both power and pedigree to the crew.

Scammell, based out of Sydney Rowing Club, is an U23 World Champion in the Women’s Coxed Four and returns to the world stage with valuable experience and confidence.

Together, they form a technically sharp and internationally seasoned duo with serious podium potential.

PR3 Women’s Single Sculls – Rising star

At just 16, Radford College’s Isobel Egan will become Australia’s first-ever PR3 Women’s Single Sculler at an Under 23 World Championship and Australia’s youngest ever international representative as a rower.

Egan only began para-rowing in February and raced her first event at ARC in March.

Her journey has been rapid, but her maturity and focus shine through.

“I never thought I’d be eligible [for international PR3 classification],” Egan said.

“But this sport moves fast, and I’m proud to be here. You never know where saying ‘yes’ might take you.”

PR3 Men’s Single Sculls – Back to the single

Sam Stunell will represent Australia in the inaugural PR3 U23 Men’s Single Sculls event, marking an exciting return to the single after a breakthrough senior international debut.

Racing alongside Lisa Greissl in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls, Stunell secured back-to-back Silver medals at World Cup - Varese and World Cup - Lucerne, firmly establishing himself as one of Australia’s rising para-rowing talents.

Now turning his focus to individual racing, the young South Australian brings confidence, international experience and momentum into Poznan as he lines up for history in this brand-new boat class.

From podium threats in the Eights to first-time representatives forging their path, this team reflects the depth and resilience of Australia’s pathway system.

“Our goal is always to make as many A-finals as possible,” Lane said.

“But more than anything, we want every crew to cross the line knowing they gave it everything. If we do that, the results will take care of themselves.”

The 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships begin Wednesday, July 23.

Stay tuned to Rowing Australia’s social media channels and website for full coverage.

How to follow the 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships:

This year the 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships will be taking place in Poznan, Poland from July 23-27, 2025.

The first races will start on 23 July at 23:30 AEST. The medal races start on Saturday, July 26 at 22:05 AEST.

Here is how to follow the event on mobile, tablet, or desktop:

1. The time table for the events and entries for all the races are available here.

2. Live race tracker and LIVE audio will be available for ALL races on www.worldrowing.com.

3. LIVE video streaming will be available on the World Rowing website for all races. The video streaming will start 5 minutes before the first race.