Great Britain has named its squad for the 2026 World Rowing U23 Championships in Duisburg, Germany – and Leander Club is proud to celebrate a remarkable cohort of 15 athletes who will represent the pink hippo on the world stage. This year’s team features a blend of returning world champions and rising talent, with Leander athletes, many coming off the back of HRR, represented across six crews. Leander athletes continue to be central to the GB Olympic Pathway – not only through their racing but through the club’s coaching, culture, and development environment. This year’s U23 squad includes:
- 15 Leander athletes across six boats
- Representation in sweep and sculling
- Athletes studying at Princeton, Harvard, Stanford, Texas, Berkeley, Yale, Dartmouth, Syracuse, and Cambridge
- Multiple returning world champions and Henley winners
Their selection is a testament to the club’s commitment to developing athletes who excel nationally and internationally.
Leander Athletes Selected
Men’s Eight (BM8+)
- Matt Johnston (Leander Club / Dartmouth College)
- Osian James (Leander Club / University of California, Berkeley)
- Kynan Tallec‑Botos (Leander Club / Harvard University)
- Alex Perkins (Leander Club / Princeton University)
- Tom Corbett (Leander Club / Stanford University)
These five athletes form the backbone of the British Men’s Eight – a boat packed with U23 debutants and returning talent.
Men’s Quadruple Sculls (BM4x)
- Elliott Donovan‑Davies (Leander Club / Hartpury University & College / Stanford University)
- Nat Gauden (Leander Club / University of California, Berkeley)
Both athletes continue their progression through the GB pathway after strong performances at Henley Royal Regatta and U23 trials. Their power and consistency will be central to the quad’s campaign in Germany.
Women’s Four (BW4‑)
- Amelia Gleed (Leander Club / University of Texas at Austin)
- Acorn Cassidy (Leander Club / Syracuse University)
- Ellie‑Kate Hutchinson (Leander Club / Bann RC / Syracuse University)
- Rhiannon Luke (Leander Club / University of Texas at Austin)
A full Leander-powered boat. This crew brings a blend of U19 medals, Henley success and NCAA experience. Hutchinson and Luke return with U23 medals already under their belts, while Gleed and Cassidy make exciting debuts.
Men’s Four (BM4‑)
- Ben Mead (Leander Club / Cambridge ’99 RC / Yale University)
- Cameron Tasker (Leander Club / University of Washington)
Mead and Tasker join a high‑calibre lineup featuring returning world champions. Mead’s U23 gold last year and Tasker’s experience in the winning Eight make this crew one to watch.
Women’s Pair (BW2‑)
- Anna Cowell (Leander Club / Sir William Perkins’s School RC / Princeton University)
Cowell makes her U23 debut after strong Coupe de la Jeunesse performances and an impressive first year in the US collegiate system.
Looking ahead to Duisburg
With over half the squad making their U23 debut, this year’s Championships will be a defining moment for the next generation of British rowing talent. Leander Club is proud to support these athletes as they take on the world from 23–26 July. We will share their results here.
