"VAN" (Sports Desk - 30.06.2026) :: The Australian Rowing Team (ART) capped an impressive World Cup III campaign in Lucerne with a haul of nine medals after the three-day regatta concluded on Sunday.
Eleven of the ART’s 20 boats made medal races and came away with two Gold, three Silver and four Bronze medals – five in Olympic class events and four in Paralympic events.
Thirty-three athletes won medals, including every member of the Para rowing squad.
Australia's impressive medal haul saw them finish third on the overall medal tally. Great Britain was first with six Golds, one Silver and one Bronze for eight medals. The US was second with three Gold, two Silver, four bronzes for nine medals.
There is still plenty of scope for improvement in the ART, but it was a brilliant outcome for Australia in the most prestigious regatta on the world calendar outside the Olympic and Paralympic Games and World Championships; especially with it being team’s final international test before the 2026 World Championships at Amsterdam in August.
The strong showing by the ART reflects the support from Hancock Prospecting and commitment of RA Patron Mrs Gina Rinehart AO. From trials to crew selection, and the big stage of international competition, Hancock Prospecting’s investment plays a pivotal role in enabling Australian crews to prepare, perform and succeed globally.
For well over a decade, Mrs Rinehart has been the single largest private backer of Australian rowing. Her generosity and commitment to ensuring the sport’s elite athletes have the support they need to represent Australia on the world stage has been transformative.
“I’m delighted and incredibly proud of the performance from our rowers on one of the sport’s biggest stages, the World Cup. To come away with an impressive medal tally when competing against the very best in the world speaks volumes to the dedication and proud Aussie spirit of our talented athletes,” Mrs Rinehart said.
“Behind every medal is a journey years in the making – involving relentless preparation and unforgiving training, often in the cold weather and at a time of day before most people get out of bed. This type of dedication, forged day-in, day-out and away from the spotlight, is what makes the difference and wins medals.
“I congratulate our rowers, their coaches, families, friends and support staff on their achievements at this renowned event. You have done Australia proud.”
RA also acknowledges the significant support from the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) and the Australian Government, whose investment enables athletes, coaches and programs to perform on the world stage and represent our nation with pride.
Across the crews, the Women’s Eight backed up their World Cup 1 Gold in Seville with Silver on Sunday and were declared the 2026 World Cup series champions in the event.
The Para rowing squad delivered the ART’s first medal on Saturday with a Bronze in the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four, setting the tone for Australia to win eight more medals on Day 3.
Nine Australian boats featured in eight medal races - the Women’s Eight with two qualified boats, the Women’s Four, Women’s Single Sculls, Men’s Eight, Men’s Pair, Men’s Quad Sculls, PR1 Men’s Single Sculls and PR3 Mixed Double Sculls.
Australia’s Golds were in the Men’s Pair and PR3 Women’s Pair. Silvers were in the Women’s Eight, Women’s Pair and PR1 Men’s Single Sculls. With the PR3 Mixed Coxed Four, the Men’s Eight, Women’s Single Sculls and the PR3 Double Sculls winning Bronze.
For World Cup III on the pristine Rotsee, Australia’s entry of 20 boats across 15 events was drawn from its Senior, ‘Australia A’ and Para rowing squads. Performances by all crews at Lucerne will go into RA’s determination of its final selection of the ‘Rowsellas’ team for the 2026 World Championships at Amsterdam, Netherlands on August 24-30.
Rowing Australia Performance Director Paul Thompson MBE said after Day 3 of World Cup III: "Showed our potential. The most pleasing part was how the crews raced, very offensively and they fought hard all the way through.
“A special shout out to Alex Hill and Angus Dawson in the Men’s Pair and Wallis Russell and Susannah Lutze in the PR3 Women’s Pair for their Gold Medal performances.
“We all know that we had a great regatta this weekend and that the fields will be deeper and faster come the Amsterdam World Championships.”
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