U.S. Wins Two Golds and One Bronze at 2026 World Rowing Championships

• Women’s four goes back-to-back for the first time since 1996, setting a world record time.
• Men’s Four Claims First Gold Since 2024 Olympics.
• Women’s Quadruple Sculls wins bronze, the best finish since 2015.
• Sam Melvin becomes first American man since 1997 in the Men’s Single Sculls A Final at the World Championships.

The U.S. made history on the sixth day of racing, winning gold in both the men’s and women’s four at the same World Rowing Championships for the first time. The women’s four defended its world title while setting a world best time of 6:09.87, and the men’s four used a powerful closing sprint to claim gold. The women’s quadruple sculls added a bronze medal, marking the crew’s best finish in the event since 2015, while the men’s quadruple sculls finished sixth overall. The last time the U.S. had all four men’s and women’s fours and quadruple sculls in the top six was 2001. Sam Melvin became the first American man since 1997 to make a World Championship’s A Final in the men’s single sculls. The women’s single sculls finished fourth in the semifinal. 

Men’s Four A Final

The field battled closely through the opening 500 meters, with the Netherlands edging ahead by a few seats as the U.S. settled into fourth. The Americans began to make their move in the second 500 meters, overtaking Romania as Great Britain took the lead. The crew of Gus Rodriguez (Rye, N.Y.), Peter Chatain (Winnetka, Ill.), Chris Carlson (Bedford, N.H.), and Pieter Quinton (Portland, Ore.), all 2024 Olympic national team members, continued to close the gap in the third 500 meters, entering the final 500 meters with the Netherlands and Great Britain separated by just .48 seconds.

“We had some really really good calls from the bow pair to drive us home there in the back half of the race, and I think one of the strong suits of this boat is just we commit whenever something is asked of us,” said Pieter Quinton. “Every time they ask for something, all four of us dug in, and that was, I think, what it took to get us back in the front.”

The world championship title came down to the final 250 meters as the U.S. and the Netherlands battled for gold. The Americans surged ahead in the closing meters to win by .27 seconds, earning the first senior world championship victory of each athlete’s career.

“We had a clean start and got off the line well, maybe we weren’t quite where we wanted to be coming through the first 500 meters” said Chris Carlson. “We practiced our calls all summer so we know where they’re going to be and we just committed to those.”

“We’ve all been dreaming of this,” said Quinton. “Every year you come to this regatta and you want to be the person or the crew listening to your national anthem. It’s going to be a really special moment and I think we’re not going to take that one for granted. It’s going to make it even more inspiring to get back to work in a couple months to pursue this again next year and the year after that.”

Women’s Four A Final 

The Netherlands took an early lead, while the U.S. settled into third. The Americans battled Australia and the Netherlands through the first half of the race, with just inches separating the top three crews at the 1,000-meter mark. The crew of Olympians Molly Bruggeman (Dayton, Ohio), Azja Czajkowski (Imperial Beach, Calif.), Teal Cohen (Dallas, Texas), and Kate Knifton (Austin, Texas) showed their strength in the third 500 meters, moving into first and opening more than half a length on Australia.

The Americans continued to build their lead through the final 500 meters, pulling clear of Australia to win their second consecutive world championship in a world’s best time of 6:09.87. The performance shattered the previous world best 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, with both crews also finishing under the previous world best. The victory marked the first time the U.S. women’s four has won back-to-back world championships since 1996.

“We just have so much trust in our base rhythm; that’s why we practice so much in,” said Kate Knifton. “It was one of those crews that you had a hard time picturing them losing. You have so much faith in the people around you that I personally visualized the race so many times, and it was so hard for me to visualize anything other than exactly what happened.”

“It is honestly the most fun thing to get in the boat with these women,” said Molly Bruggeman. “Every day at practice I look forward to it because I know they are working their asses off… they come to practice ready to go to work, and it is the most exhilarating thing when it all comes together.” 

Women’s Quadruple Sculls A Final

The crew of Olympian Kristi Wagner (Weston, Mass.), Evan Park (Bend, Ore.), Olympian Sophia Vitas (Franklin, Wis.), and Olympian Emily Kallfelz (Jamestown, R.I.) got off the line in fifth as the Netherlands established an early lead. The U.S. moved into third in the second 500 meters, overtaking Australia and Romania. The top three crews began to pull away from the field in the third 500 meters, with the Americans challenging Great Britain for second.

Great Britain responded to the American push, but the U.S. made another surge in the final 250 meters, closing quickly on the British crew. The Americans were unable to overtake Great Britain, finishing with the bronze medal in 6:10.33, 0.55 seconds off the silver medal. The Netherlands won gold.

The bronze marked the U.S.’s first world championships medal in the women’s quadruple sculls since 2015 and the program’s best finish in the event since then.

“It’s been so cool getting to row with this group of people cause they just make me feel more confident knowing that they have done this before,” said Evan Park, who is competing in her first senior world championships having been an alternate last year. “It’s crazy, this is my first year of sculling. It's been so cool to go through this process with these women.”

2024 Olympian Kristi Wagner, who returned from having her first child in 2025, spoke about returning to the team, “I was a little nervous to rejoin the group. It’s just inspiring to come to practice everyday and you know the level is right there. A rising tide lifts all boats. Internally at practice, we’re having just as tough races as we’re having at the World Championships. You bring everyone with you as you rise and that’s definitely what the group beyond just us is doing.”

Men’s Quadruple Sculls A Final

Italy and Germany established an early lead as the field remained tightly packed through the opening 500 meters. The crew of James Wright (Philadelphia, Pa.), Olympian Jacob Plihal (Vashon Island, Wash.), Cedar Cunningham (Renton, Wash.), and Olympian Ben Davison (Inverness, Fla.) settled into sixth as the race began to take shape.

The Americans made a move in the third 500 meters, closing the gap on fifth-place Poland, but were unable to move further up the field. The U.S. finished sixth overall in 5:45.47, while Italy took the gold medal.

Women’s Single Sculls Semifinal 

Olympian Lauren O’Connor (Belleville, Wis.)  got off to a strong start, settling in just behind the early leader from the Netherlands. The American crossed the first 500 meters in fourth as the field remained tightly packed, with just a few seats separating third through sixth. Great Britain’s Lauren Henry took the lead in the third 500 meters, while O’Connor held fourth and looked to close the gap on Lithuania. O’Connor crossed the line in fourth in a time of 7:36.40 and will race in the B Final tomorrow.

Men’s Single Sculls Semifinal 

Sam Melvin (Huntington Beach, Calif.) finished second in the men’s single sculls semifinal, securing a spot in the A Final and marking the first time the U.S. will have a men’s single sculler in the World Championship’s A Final since James Koven won the event in 1997.

Melvin settled into fourth as 2024 Olympic champion Ollie Zeidler took an early lead, followed by Uruguay. Known for his strong second-half speed, Melvin began to close the gap on the Uruguayan in the third 500 meters. With 500 meters to go, the American was just off the stern of the second-place boat before making his move with 350 meters remaining. Melvin surged into second before the red buoys.

Melvin found another gear in the closing strokes, narrowing the gap on Zeidler while maintaining his position in second. He crossed the line in 6:47.78 to secure second place in the semifinal and a spot in tomorrow’s A Final.

Men’s and Women’s Eights and Mixed Double Sculls Time Trials

Due to changing conditions, the heats for the men’s and women’s eights and mixed double sculls were changed to time trials to provide a fair racing opportunity for all crews. The crews raced for the fastest times against their opponents in their respective heats. 

The U.S. women’s eight posted the fastest time in the time trial, crossing the finish line in 6:01.63 to secure a spot in tomorrow’s A Final. Romania finished second, followed by the Netherlands.

The U.S. men’s eight recorded the fastest time in their time trial heat, and finished just .09 seconds behind Great Britain’s time trial time. The crew advances to tomorrow morning’s semifinal.

After racing in the morning A Finals in the men’s and women’s quadruple sculls, Sophia Vitas and Cedar Cunningham returned to the water for the mixed double sculls time trial, finishing second in their time trial heat behind Spain. The Americans advance to tomorrow morning’s semifinal.

At the close of day six, the U.S. sits atop the medal table, with three gold medals and three bronze medals earned in the competition so far. The men’s and women’s eights, men’s single sculls, mixed double sculls and mixed eight remain in medal contention tomorrow.

Follow the results and schedule here. Livestream coverage will be available on YouTube and Overnght. Photos of the event 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.