Rowsellas presented with official Australian team race suits for 2026 World Rowing Championships

By Rupert Guinness, Australian Rowing Teams Media Manager 

The presentation event was at the Corte dei Brut restaurant in Gavirate, where the Australian Rowing Team (ART) have been based at the AIS European Training Centre (ETC) during their preparations for the 2026 World Rowing Championships to be held in Amsterdam on 24-30 August.

The occasion, attended by all ART athletes, coaches, staff and guests of the ETC, was held to celebrate the Rowsellas athletes selected to represent Australia at the World Championships with the presentation of their racing kit.

The event was also an opportunity to recognise the support from Rowing Australia’s Principal Partner, Hancock Prospecting and the enduring commitment of RA Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO who recently made a special visit to the ETC to offer her support to our athletes that, with Hancock Prospecting, is pivotal in enabling Australian crews to prepare, perform and succeed on the world stage.

RA is also incredibly grateful for the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), Australian Sports Commission (ASC), Australian Government and staff at the ETC, whose investment and support enables athletes, coaches and programs to perform on the world stage and represent Australia with pride.

The 57 athletes presented with Zoot suits included eight World Championship debutants whose selection makes them eligible for the McVilly-Pearce Pin awarded to all rowers and coxswains after they first compete for Australia at Senior level at either an Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, World Rowing Championships, World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, Commonwealth Games, or FISA Senior Championships. Each McVilly-Pearce Pin is specially numbered to uniquely commemorate each athlete’s debut.

The suits were presented to members of the Rowsellas, including the reserves, after their name was read out by ART Manager and 1992 Olympian Wayne Diplock OLY, to the applause of all who attended.

RA Performance Director Paul Thompson said the presentation that is held every year before a Senior World Championships regatta and Olympic and Paralympic Games, is one of Australian rowing’s most important occasions for those athletes selected in the ART and becoming a Rowsella.

“It’s a very significant occasion for each team member,” Thompson said.

“Those who have the McVilly-Pearce Pin number on the Zoot suit are standing on the shoulders of all the athletes who’ve come before them.

“Those who haven’t got their numbers will earn theirs’ in Amsterdam.

“Whether it’s the first time on the team or the last time on the team, for every athlete receiving this race suit is a really special moment.”

On Wednesday night, the honour of handing the suits to each athlete went to the coach of each of the 13 crews and reserves from the Men’s, Women’s and Para rowing programs.

On the left chest of the prized ‘green and gold’ suit is the Australian Coat of Arms above the wording: ‘Australian Rowing Team – 2026 World Championships, Amsterdam, Netherlands’ and, for those who are not debutants, their unique McVilly-Pearce Pin number. On the right chest is the insignia of RA’s Principal Partner, Hancock Prospecting. On the left and right thighs respectively are the logos of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and RA’s Official Apparel Partner, 776BC. On both thighs and in between the shoulder blades on the back is the acronym for Australia, ‘AUS’.

The smile on athletes’ faces showcased what receiving the Zoot suit meant to them on Wednesday, especially for the eight Senior team debutants.

For Benjamin Scott, a member of the Men’s Four who is a Senior ART first timer, the presentation of the prized ART Zoot suit will allow him to join his father Rob, an Olympic Silver medallist and former President of RA.

“It’s unreal. I always wanted to get one like my dad,” Scott said. “This means a lot. I haven’t raced yet. So, I must make it to the start.”

Samantha Morton Van Eybergen who is a member of the Women’s Eight, was “extremely proud” after finally receiving her first Australian Zoot suit.

Her previous Zoot suit presentation that she attended was in 2024 before the Paris Olympics for which she was selected as a Reserve.

“It means a lot. I remember the last time I was at one of these (Zoot suit presentations)... It was difficult being named as an ‘alternate’ [reserve in 2024],”she said.

“This time round it is such an awesome feeling to get the real ‘Zootie’ that I am going to be able to race in at the World Championships for Australia.

“I’m very proud of myself. It’s been long time coming. I’m so keen to race.”

PR3 Mixed Coxed Four member Wallis Russell, who was fourth in the Single Sculls at the 2018 World Rowing Under 23 Championships after which she took a spell from rowing, said her Zoot suit is: “Very exciting. It means a lot to be a part of the Senior team and what it stands for.

“After going through the Pathways Program, stepping away and then coming back to it, you see all these teams go before you. Then to be part of the senior team is … the schoolgirl me would be jumping up and down.”

In order of crews and seatings, the Zoot suits were presented to:

(Red denotes ART debutant)

SENIOR WOMEN'S SINGLE SCULL

Tara Rigney OLY | NSW, NSWIS, Mosman Rowing Club

Coach: Alfie Young

SENIOR WOMEN'S QUAD SCULL

(B) Romy Cantwell | VIC, VIS, Melbourne University Boat Club

(2) Jean Mitchell OLY | VIC, HPNTC, Melbourne University Boat Club

(3) Annabelle McIntyre OAM OLY | WA, HPNTC, Fremantle Rowing Club

(S) Emily Sheppard | NSW, HPNTC, Sydney University Boat Club

Coach: Jamie McDonald

SENIOR WOMEN'S PAIR

(B) Emmie Frederico | VIC, HPNTC, Mercantile Rowing Club

(S) Katie Easton | VIC, HPNTC, Melbourne University Boat Club

Coach: Xavier Dorfman

SENIOR WOMEN'S FOUR

(B) Giorgia Patten OLY | WA, HPNTC, West Australian Rowing Club

(2) Bronwyn Cox OLY | WA, HPNTC, University of Western Australia Boat Club

(3) Jacqueline Swick OLY | WA, HPNTC, Swan River Rowing Club

(S) Georgina Rowe OLY | NSW, HPNTC, UTS Haberfield Rowing Club

Coach: James Harris

SENIOR WOMEN'S EIGHT

(B) Georgie Gleeson | VIC, HPNTC, Melbourne University Boat Club

(2) Eliza Gaffney | VIC, HPNTC, Melbourne University Boat Club

(3) Lily Alton OLY | QLD, HPNTC, University of Queensland Boat Club

(4) Ella Bramwell | SA, HPNTC, Adelaide Rowing Club

(5) Samantha Morton Van Eybergen | Qld, HPNTC, Sydney Rowing Club

(6) Paige Barr OLY | VIC, HPNTC, Mercantile Rowing Club

(7) Jaime Ford | NSW, HPNTC, Sydney University Boat Club

(S) Laura Gourley OLY | NSW, HPNTC, UTS Haberfield Rowing Club

(Coxswain) Hayley Verbunt OLY | VIC, HPNTC, Mercantile Rowing Club

Coach: Ellen Randell

PR1 MEN'S SINGLE SCULL

Erik Horrie OAM PLY | NSW, QAS - NTC, Sydney Rowing Club

Coach: Chris Holliday

PR3 MIXED DOUBLE SCULL

(B) Ella Marshall | TAS, RBNTC, Banks Rowing Club

(S) Sam Stunell | SA, RBNTC, Adelaide Rowing Club

Coach: Christine MacLaren

PR3 MIXED COXED FOUR

(Coxswain) Hannah Cowap PLY | NSW, RBNTC, Sydney Rowing Club

(B) Susannah Lutze PLY | VIC, RBNTC, Mercantile Rowing Club

(2) Toby Goffsassen PLY | QLD, RBNTC, KAND Rowing Club

(3) Cormac Hayes | ACT, RBNTC, Canberra Rowing Club

(S) Wallis Russell | QLD, RBNTC, University of Queensland Boat Club

Coaches: Caroline Pijpers and James Loveday

SENIOR MEN'S DOUBLE SCULL

(B) Oscar McGuinness | SA, RBNTC, Adelaide Rowing Club

(S) Nicholas Blackman | SA, RBNTC, Adelaide University Boat Club

Coach: Jamie Hewlett

SENIOR MEN'S QUAD SCULL

(B) Hamish Danks I NSW, NSWIS, Sydney University Boat Club

(2) Johnson Daubney | WA, RBNTC, Swan River Rowing Club

(3) Jackson Free | QLD, RBNTC, KAND Rowing Club

(S) Marcus Della Marta | NSW, RBNTC, Sydney University Boat Club

Coach: Nick Mitchell

SENIOR MEN'S PAIR

(B) Angus Dawson OLY | SA, RBNTC, Adelaide Rowing Club

(S) Alexander Hill OAM OLY | SA, RBNTC, Adelaide Rowing Club

Coach: Chris O’Brien

SENIOR MEN'S FOUR

(B) Nikolas Pender | NSW, RBNTC, UTS Haberfield Rowing Club

(2) Benjamin Canham OLY | VIC, RBNTC, Melbourne University Boat Club

(3) Paddy Holt OLY | QLD, NSWIS, UTS Haberfield Rowing Club

(S) Benjamin Scott | WA, WAIS, Harvard University / Fremantle Rowing Club

Coaches: Tom Laurich and Noel Donaldson

SENIOR MEN'S EIGHT

(B) Rohan Lavery | VIC, VIS, Melbourne University Boat Club

(2) Austin Reinehr | VIC, RBNTC, Mercantile Rowing Club

(3) Alex Nichol | NSW, RBNTC, Sydney Rowing Club

(4) Jack Robertson OLY | VIC, RBNTC, Mercantile Rowing Club

(5) Harry Manton | VIC, RBNTC, Melbourne University Boat Club

(6) Fergus Hamilton OLY | VIC, RBNTC, Mercantile Rowing Club

(7) Patrick Long | QLD, RBNTC, KAND Rowing Club

(S) Mitch Salisbury | QLD, RBNTC, KAND Rowing Club

(Coxswain) Nicholas Dunlop | NSW, RBNTC, Sydney Rowing Club

Coach: Nicolo Maurogiovanni

RESERVES

Women

Sara de Uray | VIC, Melbourne University Boat Club

Sophie Houston | NSW, University of Washington / Sydney University Boat Club

Star Rose Miller | NSW, UC Berkeley / Sydney Rowing Club

Taylor Caudle | NSW, HPNTC, Sydney University Boat Club

Coach: James Harris, RA Women’s Head Coach

Men

Alex Baroni I WA, WAIS, West Australian Rowing Club

Lachlan Doust | NSW, RBNTC, UTS Haberfield Rowing Club

Jackson Kench | NSW, RBNTC, Sydney University Boat Club

Darcy Watter I Qld, QAS, KAND Rowing Club

Coach: Chris O’Brien, RA Men’s Head Coach

Photo Credit: Brad Redfern Photography