U.S. Wins Two Gold, One Bronze on Day 3 of U23 World Championships

The U.S. U23 National Team had a historic day of racing in Duisburg, Germany, earning two gold medals and one bronze medal on Day 3 of the 2026 U23 World Championships. The women’s quadruple sculls delivered a dominant performance to claim the first U.S. gold in the event since 2007, while the women’s four battled through a tight final to secure their first world title since 2022. The men’s four finished with a well-earned bronze medal while the women’s pair closed out their championship with a strong sixth-place finish, and the men’s pair took 9th.

“Today was a great day for Team USA,” said Head U23 Selection Camp Coach Sergio Espinoza. “These events are incredibly competitive, and our athletes did a fantastic job of staying committed to their race plans and executing when it mattered most. I'd like to recognize the outstanding work of our entire coaching staff. Our Selection Camp coaches—Gia Doonan, Asiya Mahmud, Lizzie Mitchell, Trevor Michelson, Andrew Hess, and Noah Axford—did an exceptional job preparing these crews throughout the summer. I'd also like to recognize our Trials boat coaches, Craig Leeds, Katy Ruderman, and Thorston Kortman, whose athletes arrived ready to compete at the highest level.”

Women’s Quadruple Sculls

The women’s quadruple sculls found their form early in the race. After crossing the first 500 meters in fourth place, the U.S. crew surged through the field, building a two-second advantage over second place by the halfway mark. Continuing to extend their lead, the Americans pushed for open water and never looked back. Stanford University’s Sumner Kerr, Harvard University’s Kathryn Serra, Michigan State University’s Madison Kieft, and University of Virginia’s Lila Henn crossed the finish line in 6:28.83, finishing 4.25 seconds ahead of Great Britain. The victory marked the first U.S. gold medal in the women’s quadruple sculls at the U23 World Championships since 2007.

Women’s Four

The women’s four faced a tight battle with Great Britain throughout their final, with only inches separating the two crews through the opening half of the race. The U.S. demonstrated their strength in the third 500 meters, taking several seats from Great Britain. The British crew mounted a strong sprint in the final stretch, but the Americans held their lead to capture gold in 6:34.81. University of Texas’s Phoebe Wise, Stanford University's Annika Jeffrey, University of California, Berkeley's Ella Wheeler, and Stanford University's Claire Van Praagh, all previously U19 World Champions, added a U23 World Championship title to their resumes.

Men’s Four

The men’s four battled a tightly packed field in the opening 500 meters, racing alongside Great Britain and Australia. The U.S. moved into medal position during the second 500 meters, gaining ground on China and setting up a thrilling finish. The crew of Gonzaga University’s Tobias Finn, Harvard University’s Jordan Dykema, Princeton University’s Kian Aminian, and Yale University’s Timmy Parsons delivered a powerful sprint to cross the line in 6:00.26 and secure the bronze medal. Of note, Tobias Finn displayed incredible maturity in his first national team appearance, stroking the crew to the USA's first back-to-back podium in this event. Dykema, Aminian, and Parsons previously raced on U.S. U19 teams, with Aminian and Parsons also making multiple U23 national team appearances.

Women’s Pair

In the women’s pair A Final, Northeastern University's Gracelyn Theobald and Stanford University’s Carly Brown faced a competitive field with multiple crews separated by only a few seats throughout the race. The U.S., Romania, Lithuania, and France battled for position. The Americans held fourth through the middle of the course. In the final sprint, Romania was able to edge ahead, with the Americans finishing sixth in 7:30.20. The result marked the best U.S. finish in the women’s pair at the U23 World Championships since 2021.

Men’s Pair

Dartmouth College's Francis McGrath and Jack Kastner held fourth place in the B Final through the first half of the race before a strong third 500 meters moved them into third position. The Americans pushed past Spain and created separation from the crews behind them in the closing 500 meters. McGrath and Kastner crossed the line in 6:39.63, finishing ninth overall in the event.

Mixed Double Sculls 

Georgetown University’s Thomas Segrera and Sumner Kerr, straight off her world championship win in the quadruple sculls, raced in the mixed double sculls heat. They finished fourth in a time of 7:12.66 and did not advance to the final. 

A Finals continue tomorrow with the men’s and women's eights, lightweight women’s single sculls, lightweight men’s double sculls, and mixed eight competing for medals. The U.S. women’s single sculls and lightweight men’s single sculls will race in the B Final. Follow the results and schedule here. Livestream coverage will be available on YouTube and Overnght. Photos of the event are available here.