Leander club athletes power GB to 5 medals at U23 World Rowing Championships
Thirteen Leander Club athletes win medals across four boats in Duisburg.
Leander Club is delighted to announce an exceptional set of results from its athletes at the 2026 U23 World Rowing Championships, where thirteen Leander Club rowers contributed to Great Britain’s three gold medals and one silver. The performances highlight Leander Club’s position as the UK’s leading high‑performance rowing club and a major contributor to the GB Rowing Team pathway.
Three world titles for Leander Club athletes
Men’s Four – gold
Leander Club’s Ben Mead and Cameron Tasker brough home the first world title in a fiercely contested final. A perfectly timed push in the closing stages saw the British crew overturn Australia’s early lead to claim gold.
Tasker shared his reaction with World Rowing: “I’ve never felt better. Such an awesome way to end the season, an awesome way to bring back the first gold for GB.”
Men’s Eight – gold
Great Britain secured its seventh consecutive U23 Men’s Eight world title, led by a majority‑Leander Club crew: Matt Johnston, Osian James, Kynan Tallec‑Botos, Alex Perkins and Tom Corbett. The crew delivered a dominant, front‑running performance, demonstrating exceptional cohesion and race maturity.
Reflecting on the achievement, Johnston told World Rowing: “There’s a lot of good training gone into it, and I’m just happy that it went our way on the day.”
Men’s Quad – gold
Leander Club scullers Elliott Donovan‑Davies and Nat Gauden played a pivotal role in Britain’s first U23 quad gold since 2019. Their technical precision and consistency helped the crew control the race from the middle 1000m and secure a decisive victory.
Silver medal for full Leander Club Women’s Four
Women’s four – silver
A complete Leander Club lineup – Amelia Gleed, Acorn Cassidy, Ellie‑Kate Hutchinson and Rhiannon Luke – delivered one of the tightest finishes of the regatta, taking silver by just a canvas behind the USA. The result marks a significant milestone for Leander Club’s women’s sweep programme, showcasing depth, NCAA strength and returning U23 experience.
A defining championship for Leander Club
Across sweep and sculling, men’s and women’s squads, Leander Club athletes contributed to every Gold and one of the three silver-winning GB boats in the U23 programme. Key achievements include:
- Thirteen Leander Club athletes winning medals
- Gold medals in the BM8+, BM4x and BM4‑
- Silver medal in the BW4‑
- A full Leander Club crew in the women’s four
- Majority‑Leander Club crews in the men’s eight and men’s four
- Continued progression through Henley Royal Regatta, GB trials and NCAA programmes
These results reflect the strength of Leander Club’s development pathway and the club’s ongoing commitment to producing athletes capable of performing at the highest international level.
