Anderson and Boersen Named 2026 USRowing Beach Sprint Athletes of the Year

USRowing is pleased to announce that Malachi Anderson has been named the 2026 Beach Sprint Male Athlete of the Year, and Audrey Boersen the 2026 Beach Sprint Female Athlete of the Year. 

Selected by the athletes and coaches of the Gemini.com U.S. Beach Sprint National Team that competed at the 2026 World Rowing  Beach Sprint Finals, boatmates Anderson and Boersen were recognized at the Golden Oars Gala on November 5 at the Harvard Club of New York City.  

Back-to-back world champion Malachi Anderson captured a world title this year, winning the mixed coxed quadruple sculls at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao, China. 

Two-time Beach Sprint Male Athlete of the Year Anderson joined the national team in 2022 and earned a silver in the junior men's double sculls at the 2022 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. The following year, he won two silver medals: one in the junior men's solo and another in the junior mixed double sculls at the Beach Sprint Finals. In 2023, he also earned the accolade of Beach Sprint Male Athlete of the Year. In 2025, Anderson returned to the podium, winning gold in the mixed quadruple sculls with coxswain at the Beach Sprint Finals.  

 “I'm greatly honored, both for the opportunity to represent the U.S. these past five years on different beaches around the world and to be nominated for this award by this team of extraordinary, passionate people who've become my family,” said Malachi Anderson. 

“Rowing as a whole has changed my life trajectory. There's so much to love about being an athlete, and if I'm honest, it's easy to take things for granted. Sometimes the work can trick me into thinking I'm entitled to a reward for the dedicated ‘yeses’ I gave to a series of great opportunities. But the truth is that God has been with me at every turning point, blessing me in ways effort could never earn. 

“To my coach, Marc Oria, there's no way I could properly thank you for the many roles you've taken in my life. After getting to know you for just one month, you asked me to go to U.S. Trials for the first time. You moved mountains for me before I ever knew what I was getting into. You've challenged my thinking and set goals for me beyond my mind's ceiling. Thank you for all that you are to so many people. 

“To my teammates, all that was required of us was that we worked together when the flag dropped, regardless of how we felt outside the boat. You didn't have to make me laugh during every workout. You didn't have to play Monopoly Deal with me for an hour after every meal together. The team didn't need to average three new inside jokes a week or pull each other aside for vulnerable conversations. Thank you for being my people when you really didn't have to. 

“And to everyone who's now a part of my life because we found the same love … the longer I do this, the less I'm centered on the outcome, because the best thing about coastal rowing so far was meeting you.” 

World champion Audrey Boersen had a season akin to her boatmate Malachi Anderson’s; she captured a back-to-back world title this year, winning gold in the mixed quadruple sculls with coxswain at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. 

Five-time national team member Boersen earned a roster spot on the Senior national team in 2022 but couldn't compete after suffering an injury. She returned to the World Championship team in 2023 as an alternate. In 2024, Boersen won silver in the lightweight women's single at World Rowing Cup III and finished eighth in the lightweight single sculls at the 2024 World Rowing Championships. She again reached  the podium in 2025 after transitioning to the Beach Sprint team – bringing home gold with Anderson in the mixed quadruple sculls with coxswain. 

“Thank you all, this is an incredible honor,” said Audrey Boersen. “I, as do many others, set out at the start of each season with goals such as set a new 2k PR, make a national team, medal at Worlds. This was never a goal, but is certainly the cherry on top of a great year for me. I train and compete with some truly spectacular athletes on the Beach Sprint team, so thank you to everyone who decided to vote for me for this honor. 
 
“Beach sprint rowing was a unique opportunity after lightweight rowing was cut from the Olympic program. If I'm honest, I wasn't sure about it at first: ‘What do you mean I need to learn how to sprint in sand and spring out of a boat?’ But somewhere in 2025, between training in beautiful Roses, Spain, and my first coastal endurance race in Antalya, Turkey, I fell in love with the sport. I tell myself, ‘You can't be too stressed, or mad, or sad while on the beach,’ and that's what this sport gave me: a newfound love of rowing. So, thank you to Marc Oria and every single member of the beach sprint team for making this such an amazing experience. 
 
“It takes a village to raise, nurture, and coach an athlete, so I have a lot of people to thank for getting me to this stage. To my coaches, past and present, Eric Catalano, Sean Hall, and Judith Vogel, for the time and commitment you gave me post-collegiate rowing. To the communities and boathouses that have housed me as I moved up and down the East Coast. To Grand Valley Rowing for introducing me to rowing and creating a desire for more, and to all the coaches that made that happen. To every single teammate I have crossed paths with: there are too many to thank, but you have all impacted me and helped me on this journey. 
 
“And, of course, to my parents. They both thought I was a bit crazy to move hundreds of miles away in the pursuit of rowing and, to be fair, I was. Thank you for your continued support as I move from place to place and travel around the world in pursuit of a sport I love.”  

For a historical list of USRowing Athlete of the Year Award winners, click here.