Road Map: 150 Days till the 2025 World Championships

The U.S. National Team is 150 days away from the 2025 World Championships in Shanghai, China, on September 21-28. With the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics behind us, the U.S. National Team looks forward to welcoming new talent and developing the core group of returning national team and Olympic athletes. Here is what the next few months will look like as the senior national team works toward this year’s championships.

The Season So Far

This March, Winter Speed Orders took place in Sarasota, Florida, with a mix of new and experienced talent. Multiple Olympians took part as they battled down the course with recently graduated rowers. Olympian Jacob Plihal and three-time national team member Maggie Fellows won the time trials in the men’s and women’s single sculls, while Olympian Kate Knifton and Camille VanderMeer won the women’s pair. Olympic bronze medalist Henry Hollingsworth teamed up with U23 World Champion Josh Diggons to win the men’s pair. Paralympic silver medalist Ben Washburne competed in the men’s PR3 single sculls. 

The top four finishers in the men’s and women’s single sculls included Olympians Grace Joyce, Azja Czajkowski, Jacob Plihal, and Olympic bronze medalist Chris Carlson. They raced at the Lenny Peters Cup in April and competed against the top Olympic scullers from around the world. 

International Racing

Before World Cup I and II, the national team will host a select group of athletes to train in Sarasota, Florida, for the Olympic Events Selection Camp I in May. Boats will be selected to compete internationally and may be one of the first opportunities for our newest team members to compete against the best in the world. World Cup I will be in Varese, Italy, from June 13-15, followed by World Cup II on June 27-29 in Lucerne, Switzerland. 

Selection Camp II & Trials

After racing internationally, Selection Camp II will occur in July in New Jersey with Olympic events: the men’s and women’s double sculls, quadruple sculls, four, and eight. The remaining events, the men’s and women’s single sculls and pair and lightweight events, will be chosen at the World Rowing Championship Trials set to take place on August 1-3 in West Windsor, N.J. Crews who compete at trials are required to win the event and be within the competitive standard time to compete at the World Rowing Championships. 

Para Selection

This summer, the Para national team will be selected in a training camp and trials. The PR3 mixed four with coxswain, and the PR3 mixed double sculls will be training in Boston in July and selected at that camp. Paralympians are expected to return to the team, as many were in college or are recent graduates. The remaining Para boats will be selected at the World Rowing Championship Trials in West Windsor, N.J., on August 1-3. 

If you are interested in being selected for the Senior or Para national team, information is available here. 

Support The U.S. National Team

This year’s Podium Day will be on May 21. Podium Day is a 24-hour campaign to unite our community and raise funds for the U.S. National Teams. Together, this support fuels our athletes' success on the podium by opening boathouse doors, developing talent, and supporting those going for gold.