Rowing Australia30 September 2026, 4:51:47 pm AEST3 min read

Team Announcement | Rowsellas Primed for 2026 World Beach Sprint Finals

The Rowsellas Beach Sprint Team set to compete at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao, China from 18-21 October has been announced.

Seven athletes will represent across four crews at the event, alongside two Under 19 rowers competing in the U19 Men's Coastal Solo, Women's Coastal Solo and Coastal Mixed Double Scull disciplines.

Crews will attend a pre-departure camp from 5-10 October, their final training on home shores before preparation begins in Qingdao. As the athletes and coaches build towards the World Beach Sprint Finals and to LA28 where coastal rowing will make its Olympic debut, they do so through a national high performance pathway backed by the enduring commitment of Hancock Prospecting and Rowing Australia Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO.

Isabella Scammell will make her Rowsellas Beach Sprint debut competing in the Women's Coastal Solo and Coastal Mixed Double Sculls, after winning gold in the same two disciplines at the recent Australian & Oceania Beach Sprint Championships (AOBSC).

Partnering Scammell in the Mixed Double Sculls is Oscar Scheel-Gamborg who also enjoyed a successful AOBSC campaign winning three gold medals, including the Coastal Mixed Double Sculls discipline with Scammell.

The Rowsellas' Coastal Men's Solo representative will be Queensland's Sam Forbes. Forbes won an incredible five gold medals at the 2026 AOBSC, and is relishing the opportunity to compete in the Men's Solo category.

Forbes will also feature in the Coastal Mixed Quad Scull alongside Catherine Khan, Elizabeth Newell, Dan Johnston and Ryder Taylor. 2026 will be the third World Beach Sprints campaign for Newell having previously competed in the 2024 and 2025 editions.

Ryder Taylor and Sam Forbes featured in the Rowsellas Mixed Quad Scull crew at the 2025 World Beach Sprint Finals who won Australia's first beach sprint world medal, while Dan Johnston makes his return to the Rowsellas squad after making his debut in the 2024 World Beach Sprint Finals.

In the Under 19 event disciplines, Harrison Braithwaite and Maddison McLaughlin will fly the flag for Australia, competing in the Under 19 Men's and Women's Coastal Solo categories respectively before combining to compete in the U19 Coastal Mixed Double Scull.

Rowing Australia Performance Director Paul Thompson MBE is excited by the depth of the Rowsellas squad and has encouraged athletes to make the most of their opportunity to compete on the world stage.

"Well done to the coaches, athletes and support staff who have built this team. The calibre of athletes in this squad and the depth we've been able to build across this team is particularly encouraging. The World Beach Sprint Finals is a great opportunity for our athletes to test themselves against world-class fields, providing them with invaluable experience as we head into next years Olympic Qualifying season.

"Beach Sprints is an enthralling format, fast, physical and full of energy, and with this format set feature at the LA2028 Olympic Games, it's an exciting time for the sport and for our team as we continue preparations towards 2028."

Racing begins on Sunday 18 October, with all event information available on the World Rowing website.

2026 Australian Beach Sprint Rowing Team

Coastal Men's Solo

Sam Forbes | QLD | QAS | University of Queensland Boat Club

Coastal Women's Solo

Isabella Scammell | NSW | NSWIS | Sydney Rowing Club

Coastal Mixed Double Scull

(B) Oscar Scheel-Gamborg | NSW | NSWIS | Mosman Rowing Club

(S) Isabella Scammell | NSW | NSWIS | Sydney Rowing Club

Coastal Mixed Quad Scull

(B) Elizabeth Newell | QLD | QAS | University of Queensland Boat Club

(2) Dan Johnston | NSW | Mosman Rowing Club