2022 World Rowing Championships: Boat-by-Boat Preview

The U.S. will have 25 boats competing at the 2022 World Rowing Championships September 18-25 in Racice, Czech Republic, including the men's and women's single sculls, lightweight single sculls, double sculls, lightweight double sculls, quadruple sculls, lightweight quadruple sculls, pair, lightweight pair, four, and eight, as well as the PR1 men's single sculls, PR2 men's and women's single sculls, PR3 mixed double sculls, and PR3 mixed four with coxswain.

This will be the first time the world championship has been held since 2019 due to COVID-19. In 2019, the U.S. came home with six medals including gold in the lightweight women's pair and PR3 women's pair, silver in the PR3 mixed four with coxswain, and bronze in the women's single sculls, women's eight, and PR3 mixed double sculls.

Of the 78 athletes on this year's roster, 19 were on the Tokyo 2020 Olympic or Paralympic Games' squads. The roster is made up of athletes from 23 states, plus Germany. Massachusetts leads the way with 14 athletes, followed by New York with nine.

In total, 930 athletes in 422 boats from 65 countries are scheduled to compete in Racice. The U.S. has entered the most boats with 25, followed by Italy with 23.

USRowing would like to thank Filippi Lido, the Official Boat Supplier for the U.S. Senior, Under 23, and Para Rowing National Teams. Under the agreement, Filippi is providing USRowing a fleet of boats for international competitions including the World Rowing Cup regattas, World Rowing Under 23 Championships, World Rowing Championships, Olympic Games, and Paralympic Games, as well as a domestic training fleet for the USRowing Training Center.

Women's Single Sculls

In the women's single sculls, nine-time national team member Kara Kohler (Clayton, Calif./University of California, Berkeley/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) returns to the event. Kohler won a bronze medal in the single at the 2019 World Rowing Championships but finished ninth at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. She will take on 24 other scullers in Racice including reigning Olympic champion Emma Twigg from New Zealand, The Netherlands' Karolien Florijn who has yet to lose a race this year, and world cup medalists Tara Rigney of Australia and Jeannine Gmelin of Switzerland.

Men's Single Sculls

In the men's single sculls, Ben Davison (Inverness, Fla./University of Washington/California Rowing Club) is part of a 40-boat field. Davison, who raced in the men's eight at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, is no stranger to the single having raced it internationally at both the under 23 and junior levels. The field includes reigning Olympic champion Stefanos Ntouskos from Greece, 2019 World Champion Oliver Zeidler of Germany, 2022 European Champion Melvin Twellaar of The Netherlands, and Norway's Kjetil Borch, amongst others.

Lightweight Women's Single Sculls

Mary Jones Nabel (Huntsville, Ala./University of Tennessee/Cambridge Boat Club) won the gold medal at the first two World Rowing Cup regattas of the year. The six-time national team member is part of a 25-boat field that includes Australia's Georgia Nesbitt, who finished second to Jones Nabel at the second world cup race, and Romania's Ionela-Livia Cozmiuc, who won the European championship in August.

Lightweight Men's Single Sculls

Jimmy McCullough (Philadelphia, Pa./University of Delaware/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) will be racing at his first world championships, having previously represented the U.S. at the 2019 Pan American Games. McCullough is one of 30 men entered in the event. Greece's Antonios Papakonstantinou won the event at last month's European championship.

PR1 Men's Single Sculls

Andrew Mangan (Buffalo, N.Y./Stanford University/West Side Rowing Club/Bair Island Aquatic Center) will be making his national team debut in Racice. Mangan will take on 17 scullers in the event including Italy's Giacomo Perini, who won the European championship last month, as well as all six of the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games' finalists including Ukraine's Roman Polianskyi, the reigning Paralympic champion.

PR2 Women's Single Sculls

Jennifer Fitz-Roy (Glen Ridge, N.J./Boston College/Community Rowing, Inc.) also will be making her national team debut. Fitz-Roy is one of four scullers entered in the event. She will be racing scullers from Australia, Ireland, and Ukraine in Racice. Ireland's Katie O'Brien won the event at this year's second World Rowing Cup race in Poznan, Poland.

PR2 Men's Single Sculls

After racing at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games in the PR2 mixed double sculls, Russell Gernaat (Redwood City, Calif./Lake Casitas Rowing Club) will race in the PR1 men's single sculls event this year. Gernaat will take on six other scullers including Gian Filippo Mirabile, who took third in the event at World Rowing Cup II in Poznan.

Women's Double Sculls

Sophia Vitas (Franklin, Wis./University of Wisconsin/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) and Kristi Wagner (Weston, Mass./Yale University/ARION) joined forces in the double in July following the team's return from Europe. Vitas won a bronze medal with Kara Kohler in the event at the second World Rowing Cup but needed a new partner when Kohler decided to concentrate on the single sculls. Enter Wagner, who finished fifth in the event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games with Gevvie Stone. The duo is part of a 19-boat field that includes the reigning Olympic champions from Romania, Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis, and the Dutch duo of Roos de Jong and Laila Youssifou, who finished second to the Romanians at last month's European Rowing Championships.

Men's Double Sculls

Sorin Koszyk (Grosse Pointe Park, Mich./Cornell University/California Rowing Club) and Thomas Phifer (New York, N.Y./Middlebury College/Penn Athletic Club) both will be making their world championships' debuts in Racice. The duo is one of 25 crews entered in the event. Croatia's Martin and Valent Sinkovic are unbeaten since their return to the double and are looking to add another world title to their collection. Matthieu Androdias and Hugo Boucheron, the Olympic champions from France, are back as well.

Lightweight Women's Double Sculls

Molly Reckford (Short Hills, N.J./Dartmouth College/Sarasota Crew) and Michelle Sechser (Folsom, Calif./University of Tulsa/Cambridge Boat Club) finished fifth in the event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, missing a medal by a deck. They are back with their eyes set on the medal stand in Racice. Reckford and Sechser are part of a 24-boat field that includes the Tokyo 2020 Olympic gold and silver medalists, Italy's Valentina Rodini and Federica Cesarini and France's Claire Bove and Laura Tarantola, as well as the 2022 European Champions, Great Britain's Imogen Grant and Emily Craig.

Lightweight Men's Double Sculls

Coming off a fifth-place finish at World Rowing Cup II in Poznan, Zachary Heese (Pelham, N.Y./University of Virginia/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) and Jasper Liu (Phoenix, Ariz./University of Pennsylvania/Texas Rowing Center High Performance) will take on 28 other crews in the lightweight men's double sculls. Ireland's Fintan McCarthy and Paul O'Donovan, the reigning Olympic champions, just won the European championship last month ahead of Italy's Pietro Ruta and Stefano Oppo, who finished third in Tokyo.

PR3 Mixed Double Sculls

Pearl Outlaw (Charlottesville, Va./Ithaca College/Portland Boat Club) and Todd Vogt (Rochester, N.Y. /Portland Boat Club) dominated their competition in the event at the 2022 Gavirate International Para Rowing Regatta earlier this summer. The crew is one of nine boats scheduled to race in Racice.

Women's Quadruple Sculls

The crew of Savannah Brija (Lemont, Ill./Ithaca College/ARION), Emily Delleman (Davenport, Iowa/Stanford University/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Maggie Fellows (Warwick, Mass./St. Lawrence University/Boston Rowing Federation), and Emily Kallfelz (Jamestown, R.I./Princeton University/Cambridge Boat Club) is part of a 14-boat field. All four women are racing at their first senior world championships. China won the gold medal at last year's Olympic Games, with Poland and Australia winning silver and bronze. Great Britain won last month's European championship.

Men's Quadruple Sculls

The men's quadruple sculls crew of Kevin Cardno (Huntsville, Ala./University of Alabama, Huntsville/Texas Rowing Center High Performance), Jonathan Kirkegaard (Philadelphia, Pa./Purdue University/Texas Rowing Center High Performance), Jacob Plihal (Vashon Island, Wash./Northeastern University/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), and Dominique Williams (Madison, Conn./University of Pennsylvania/Vesper Boat Club) reached the final at the 2022 Henley Royal Regatta before falling to China. Seventeen boats have entered the event in Racice. The Netherlands is the defending Olympic champion, with Great Britain and Australia taking home the other two medals. Italy won the European championship.

Lightweight Women's Quadruple Sculls

Only two crews entered the lightweight women's quadruple sculls event, with the U.S. boat in flux due to injuries. Sarah Maietta (Wayland, Mass./Boston University) and Grace D'Souza (Milwaukee, Wis./University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee Rowing Club/Whitemarsh Boat Club) have replaced injured Sophia Luwis (McLean, Va./The College of William & Mary/Whitemarsh Boat Club) and Audrey Boersen (West Olive, Mich./Grand Valley State University/Whitemarsh Boat Club) in the lineup. They join Elizabeth Martin (Lexington, Mass./Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Riverside Boat Club/ Whitemarsh Boat Club) and Cara Stawicki (Wall, N.J./Lehigh University/Whitemarsh Boat Club). The crew will race against Italy.

Lightweight Men's Quadruple Sculls

The crew of Ashton Knight (Weston, Mass./Tufts University/Riverside Boat Club), Ian Richardson (Amesbury, Mass./University of Connecticut/Riverside Boat Club), Sean Richardson (Beverly, Mass./University of Massachusetts/Riverside Boat Club), and Mats Terwiesch (Wynnewood, Pa./Bates College/Riverside Boat Club) will be making its Team USA debut. The crew will take on boats from China, Spain, Germany, and Italy. Italy beat Germany at last month's European championship to win the gold medal.

Women's Pair

Tokyo 2020 Olympians Claire Collins (McLean, Va./Princeton University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton) and Madeleine Wanamaker (Neenah, Wis./University of Wisconsin/USRowing Training Center-Princeton) will be doubling up in the pair and eight in Racice. The duo won a silver medal at the World Rowing Cup race in Poznan. New Zealand's Grace Prendergast and Kerri Gowler Williams won Olympic gold in Tokyo and are back for another season. Romania's Ioana Vrinceanu and Denisa Tilvescu won the European championship last month.

Men's Pair

Justin Best (Kennett Square, Pa./Drexel University/California Rowing Club) and Michael Grady (Pittsburgh, Pa./Cornell University/California Rowing Club), who were both part of last year's Olympic team, won a bronze medal at World Rowing Cup II in Poznan behind New Zealand and The Netherlands. Romania's Marius Cozmiuc and Sergiu Bejan won the European championship. Cozmuic was part of the Romanian pair that won silver in Tokyo.

Lightweight Women's Pair

The U.S. crew of Solveig Imsdahl (Eutin, Germany/Cornell University/Vesper Boat Club) and Elaine Tierney (West Chester, Pa./Temple University/Vesper Boat Club) are one of four boats entered in the lightweight women's pair. Both are racing at the senior world championships for the first time. Imsdahl and Tierney will take on boats from Brazil, Germany, and Italy.

Lightweight Men's Pair

Justin Stevens (Knoxville, Tenn./Vanderbilt University/New York Athletic Club) and Harrison Tsavaris (Pelham Manor, N.Y./Fordham University/New York Athletic Club) are making their national team debuts. The U.S. is one of eight entries in the event. Hungary won the European championships last month.

Women's Four

Allyson Baker (North Royalton, Ohio/The Ohio State University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Erin Boxberger (Shady Shores, Texas/University of Notre Dame/Craftsbury Green Racing Project), Teal Cohen (Dallas, Texas/University of Washington), and Vicky Opitz (Middleton, Wis./University of Wisconsin/USRowing Training Center-Princeton) are one of 13 crews scheduled to compete in the women's four in Racice. Baker and Cohen will be racing at their first senior world championships, while Boxberger and Opitz have senior team experience. Australia, The Netherlands, and Ireland took home the medals at last year's Olympics and all three countries are back in the mix this year. Great Britain won this year's European championship ahead of Ireland and Romania.

Men's Four

Tokyo 2020 Olympian Nick Mead (Strafford, Pa./Princeton University/New York Athletic Club) joins three senior national team newcomers in Rhett Burns (Poughkeepsie, N.Y./Northeastern University), Henry Hollingsworth (Dover, Mass./Brown University/California Rowing Club), and Gus Rodriguez (Rye, N.Y./Brown University/California Rowing Club) in the men's four. The quartet will face off against 18 other crews. Australia, Romania, and Italy won the medals at last year's Olympics. The Aussie crew returns three from that boat. Great Britain won the European championship ahead of The Netherlands and Romania.

PR3 Mixed Four with Coxswain

The U.S. has won silver in the event for seven consecutive years in Paralympic and world championship competition but will feature an entirely new lineup in 2022. The crew includes three newcomers and two veterans. Molly Moore (Indianapolis, Ind./Harvard University/Community Rowing, Inc.) and Andrew Wigren (Providence, R.I./Hobart College) will be racing on their second national team, having rowed in the PR3 women's and men's pairs, respectively, at the 2019 World Rowing Championships. Saige Harper (Easthampton, Mass./Sacred Heart University), Alex Flynn (Wilmington, Mass./Tufts University), and coxswain Emilie Eldracher (Andover, Mass./Massachusetts Institute of Technology) will be racing on their first national team. Nine crews are entered including Great Britain, which is riding an 11-year unbeaten streak.

Women's Eight

The crew of Hannah Broadland (Sacramento, Calif./San Diego State University/San Diego Rowing Club/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Molly Bruggeman (Dayton, Ohio/University of Notre Dame/USRowing Training Center-Princeton/University of Minnesota), Charlotte Buck (Nyack, N.Y./Columbia University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Claire Collins (McLean, Va./Princeton University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Alina Hagstrom (Seattle, Wash./Oregon State University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Kelsey Reelick (Brookfield, Conn./Princeton University/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Regina Salmons (Methuen, Mass./University of Pennsylvania/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), Jessica Thoennes (Highlands Ranch, Colo./University of Washington/USRowing Training Center-Princeton), and Madeleine Wanamaker (Neenah, Wis./University of Wisconsin/USRowing Training Center-Princeton) includes five Tokyo 2020 Olympians, with Collins and Wanamaker doubling into the pair. Five other boats are entered in the event including Canada and China, who won gold and bronze medals, respectively, at last year's Olympics. The Canadian crew includes four members of last year's boat. Romania won the 2022 European Rowing Championships.

Men's Eight

One of 11 entries, the U.S. crew of Chris Carlson (Bedford, N.H./University of Washington/California Rowing Club), Jimmy Catalano (Greenwich Conn./University of Wisconsin), Michael Clougher (Canton, Mass./Connecticut College/Penn Athletic Club), Liam Corrigan (Old Lyme, Conn./Harvard University/California Rowing Club), Andrew Gaard (Madison, Wis./University of Washington/California Rowing Club), Alex Karwoski (Moultonborough, N.H./Cornell University), Michael Knippen (Germantown, Wis./University of Wisconsin/California Rowing Club), Pieter Quinton (Portland, Ore./Harvard University/California Rowing Club), and Nick Rusher (West Bend, Wis./Yale University) includes two Olympians. Great Britain and Germany took home the silver and bronze medals last year in Tokyo. GB won the European championship last month ahead of The Netherlands.