U.S. Wins Nine Medals at 2026 World Rowing Championships

The U.S. closed out the 2026 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam with nine medals, including three world titles and six bronze medals, capping a week that featured historic performances across the Gemini.com U.S. National Team.

The U.S. won gold in the men’s four, women’s four, and PR3 mixed coxed four, while earning bronze in the women’s pair, women’s quadruple sculls, women’s eight, lightweight men’s double sculls, mixed double sculls, and mixed eight. The nine-medal performance placed the U.S. third in the medal table and second in total medals, the best World Championship medal-table finish since 2018. The U.S. won five medals in events on the LA28 Olympic program, tying its best World Championship medal total in Olympic events since 1981.

The championships also included several historic milestones. The women’s four defended its world title in a World Best Time of 6:09.87, becoming the first U.S. women’s four to win consecutive world championships since 1996. The PR3 mixed coxed four ended Great Britain’s 15-year winning streak to capture the first U.S. world title in the event while setting a World Rowing Championships best time of 6:46.60. The women’s quadruple sculls returned to the podium for the first time since 2015, and Sam Melvin recorded the best U.S. men’s single sculls finish at a World Championships in 29 years. The U.S. also medaled in all three women’s sweep events—the pair, four, and eight—for the first time since 2015.

Gold Medals

Women’s Four — Gold

Olympians Molly Bruggeman, Azja Czajkowski, Teal Cohen, and Kate Knifton successfully defended the U.S. world title, taking control of the A Final in the second half of the race and pulling clear of Australia to win in 6:09.87.

The performance shattered the previous World Best Time of 6:14.36, set by New Zealand on the Bosbaan at the 2014 World Rowing Championships, and made the U.S. the first women’s four to break 6:10. Australia finished second in 6:12.40, followed by the Netherlands in third in 6:13.74. The victory marked the first time the U.S. women’s four has won back-to-back world championships since 1996.

Men’s Four — Gold

Gus Rodriguez, Peter Chatain, Chris Carlson, and Pieter Quinton, all members of the 2024 Olympic team, delivered one of the closest finishes of the championships.

The U.S. settled into fourth in the opening 500 meters before beginning to move through the field. The world title came down to the final 250 meters as the Americans battled the Netherlands for gold. The U.S. surged ahead in the closing meters to win in 5:41.57, just 0.27 seconds ahead of the Netherlands. Great Britain took bronze.

The victory marked the first senior World Championship title for all four athletes. It also marked the first time the U.S. men’s and women’s fours won gold at the same World Rowing Championships.

PR3 Mixed Coxed Four — Gold

Paralympic silver medalists Skylar Dahl and Alex Flynn, three-time national team member Max Allemeier, Gabriella Bigler, and coxswain Hannah Diaz made history in the PR3 mixed coxed four.

The U.S. settled into fifth in the opening 500 meters as Great Britain took the early lead. The Americans moved into podium contention before the halfway mark and continued to close on the British crew through the third 500 meters. The U.S. carried its momentum into the closing stages, moving past Great Britain to win by 1.27 seconds.

The victory ended Great Britain’s 15-year winning streak in the event and gave the U.S. its first world title in the PR3 mixed coxed four. The winning time of 6:46.60 set a World Rowing Championships best time. Great Britain finished second and France third.

Bronze Medals

Women’s Pair — Bronze

Olympian Regina Salmons and Mia Levy raced from sixth at the first 500-meter mark into medal contention in the second half of the women’s pair A Final.

The Americans overtook the Czech Republic before setting their sights on Italy in third. Salmons and Levy surged again in the final 500 meters, moving past Italy and closing on France before crossing the line in 6:59.76 to earn bronze. Romania won gold, followed by France.

The medal was Levy’s first at a senior World Championships and the second for Salmons.

Women’s Quadruple Sculls — Bronze

Olympians Kristi Wagner, Sophia Vitas, and Emily Kallfelz, along with Evan Park, returned the U.S. to the World Championship podium in the women’s quadruple sculls for the first time since 2015.

The U.S. moved from fifth into third in the second 500 meters and challenged Great Britain for silver through the closing stages. The Americans crossed the line in 6:10.33, just 0.55 seconds behind Great Britain. The Netherlands won gold in 6:08.18.

Women’s Eight — Bronze

Dahlia Levine, Megan Lee, Olympian Charlotte Buck, Olympian Jess Thoennes, Olympian Claire Collins, Camille VanderMeer, Alexandria Vallancey-Martinson, Etta Carpender, and coxswain Olympian Nina Castagna earned bronze in the women’s eight.

The U.S. settled into fifth early before beginning to move through the field in the second half. The Americans moved into medal contention in the final 500 meters, clearing the Netherlands and challenging Great Britain. Romania secured gold, followed by Great Britain, with the U.S. taking bronze in 5:53.76.

The medal completed a strong performance across the U.S. women’s sweep program, with the pair, four, and eight all reaching the podium at the same World Championships for the first time since 2015.

Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls — Bronze

Jamie Copus and Sean Richardson produced a late charge to earn bronze in the lightweight men’s double sculls.

The Americans traded places with India through the first half before making their move in the third 500 meters, moving from sixth into fourth. Copus and Richardson put together a strong closing sprint to take the final podium position in 6:27.45.

The result was the best U.S. World Championship finish in the event since 1990.

Mixed Double Sculls — Bronze

After setting a World Best Time of 6:22.42 in the semifinal, Cedar Cunningham and Olympian Sophia Vitas returned to the water to earn bronze in the mixed double sculls.

The Americans challenged Ireland for silver in the final 500 meters and crossed the line third in 6:22.75, just 0.41 seconds out of second place. The Netherlands won in a new World Best Time of 6:15.80.

Vitas earned her second bronze medal of the championships after taking bronze in the women’s quadruple sculls, while Cunningham earned his first senior World Championship medal.

Mixed Eight — Bronze

The World Champion men’s and women’s fours combined in the mixed eight, with Molly Bruggeman, Azja Czajkowski, Teal Cohen, Kate Knifton, Gus Rodriguez, Peter Chatain, Chris Carlson, and Pieter Quinton returning to the water.

Romania and the U.S. established themselves at the front through the first half before Romania moved ahead in the third 500 meters. The Netherlands challenged the U.S. late, with the silver medal decided by 0.19 seconds. Romania won gold in 5:35.75, followed by the Netherlands in 5:38.42 and the U.S. in 5:38.61.

Additional A Final Performances

Men’s Single Sculls — Fourth

Sam Melvin produced a breakthrough performance in Amsterdam, becoming the first U.S. men’s single sculler to reach a World Championship A Final since James Koven won the event in 1997.

In the A Final, Melvin settled into sixth before beginning to work his way through the field in the second half. He moved into fourth in the third 500 meters and continued to close on Norway in the race for bronze. The two boats were bow ball to bow ball through the final strokes, with Norway taking third by just 0.11 seconds.

Melvin finished fourth in 6:44.14, the best U.S. performance in the men’s single sculls at the World Championships in 29 years. Germany’s Oliver Zeidler won gold.

Men’s Eight — Fifth

The men’s eight of Mike Herman, Charles Fargo, Wilson Morton, Olympian Billy Bender, Madison Molitor, Sam Sullivan, Nate Phelps, Josh Diggons, and coxswain Rachel Rane advanced to the A Final after finishing second in their semifinal behind Australia. The crew combined returning senior national team experience with several athletes making their senior World Championships debuts.

In the final, the U.S. remained in contention through the first half before Australia, Great Britain, and Germany moved ahead in the second half. The Americans finished fifth in 5:22.32. The Netherlands won gold in 5:17.75, followed by Great Britain and Australia.

Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls — Fifth

Justin Schmidt advanced to the A Final of the lightweight men’s single sculls after finishing third in his semifinal.

In the final, Schmidt made his move in the third 500 meters, pushing into fifth and holding the position through the finish. He crossed the line in 7:04.20 to finish fifth overall.

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls — Fifth

Claire Friedlander advanced to the A Final after finishing third in her semifinal.

Friedlander sat sixth through much of the final before putting together a strong closing sprint to move into fifth. She crossed the line in 7:44.96 to finish fifth overall.

PR2 Mixed Double Sculls — Sixth

Nat Vorel and Chance Quarry reached the A Final of the PR2 mixed double sculls.

The U.S. settled into fifth through the opening 500 meters before Ukraine moved ahead in the second 500. Vorel and Quarry finished sixth in 8:34.53. The result marked the first U.S. crew to reach the PR2 mixed double sculls A Final at a World Championships since 2018.

Men’s Quadruple Sculls — Sixth

James Wright, Olympian Jacob Plihal, Cedar Cunningham, and Olympian Ben Davison advanced to the A Final after finishing third in their semifinal.

The Americans made a push through the second half of the final before crossing the line sixth in 5:45.47. Italy won gold in 5:33.60.

B, C and D Final Results

Women’s Single Sculls — 11th

Olympian Lauren O’Connor advanced through her heat and quarterfinal before finishing fourth in her semifinal, narrowly missing the A Final.

O’Connor finished fifth in the B Final in 7:30.84 to place 11th overall.

Men’s Pair — 13th

Samuel Halbert and Blake Vogel closed their championships with a victory in the C Final.

The Americans took the lead in the opening 500 meters and extended their advantage through the halfway mark. Ireland and Germany challenged in the closing strokes, but Halbert and Vogel held the lead to cross the line first in 6:51.74, finishing 13th overall.

Women’s Double Sculls — 16th

Isa Darvin and Olympian Grace Joyce finished fourth in the C Final of the women’s double sculls.

The Americans gained speed through the second half, moving past Romania and putting pressure on Austria in third. Darvin and Joyce crossed the line in 7:26.18 to finish 16th overall.

Men’s Double Sculls — 19th

Willem Drescher and James Fetter closed their championships with a victory in the D Final.

The Americans moved into fourth through the opening 500 meters as Turkey took the lead. Drescher and Fetter pushed into second in the second 500 meters and continued to close the gap. The U.S. took the lead around the 1,200-meter mark and extended its advantage through the third 500 meters before maintaining control through the closing sprint. The victory gave the U.S. a 19th-place finish overall.

Athletes from the U.S. will compete next at the Shanghai Sprints from September 26-27. The Beach Sprint National Team will compete for world championship titles at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals from October 18-21 in Qingdao, China.

Photos from the 2026 World Rowing Championships can be found here.

USRowing would like to thank Filippi Lido, the Official Boat Supplier for the U.S. Senior 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 Championships, Olympic Games, and Paralympic Games, as well as a domestic training fleet for the USRowing Training Centers.