World Rowing Championships 2026 – Leander Summary
Leander athletes delivered a standout set of performances for Great Britain at the 2026 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam, contributing to three silver, and two bronze medals for the GB Rowing Team. Both the Men’s and Women’s Eights recorded times under the previous World Best Time, securing historic silver medals.
Men’s Eight – Silver
Leander athletes Will Stewart, Miles Beeson, Archie Drummond, Harry Geffen, and cox Tom Bryce formed the core of GB’s silver‑medal crew. GB moved from 4th at halfway to 2nd in a photo finish behind the Netherlands, who set a new World Best Time. GB also finished under the previous record.
Drummond reflected on the performance:
“Today was about process… it wasn’t the colour we wanted, but it was a performance we can be proud of.”
Women’s Eight – Silver
A landmark result for Great Britain: the first ever silver medal in the Women’s Eight. Leander athletes Lizzie Witt, Amelia Standing, Katherine George, Lauren Irwin, Eve Stewart, Heidi Long, Annie Campbell‑Orde, and cox Jack Tottem produced the fastest time ever recorded by a British Women’s Eight (5:52.76), also under the previous World Best Time.
Long said:
“We’ve worked incredibly hard every day… to come away with silver means so much.”
Women’s Quadruple Sculls – Silver
Leander’s Lola Anderson and Hannah Scott, with Finn Stratton and Imogen Grant, secured back‑to‑back World Championship silvers for GB. The Netherlands led from early on; GB held firm in second despite pressure from the USA.
Scott noted:
“I’m truly proud of that race… we might be ahead of our trajectory this cycle.”
Men’s Four – Bronze
Leander’s Dan Graham, James Robson, Douwe de Graaf, and George Bourne were in medal contention throughout a tightly contested final. GB led briefly at halfway before the USA surged to gold. GB secured silver behind the Netherlands in a photo finish.
Graham said:
“The first 1500m was as good as we could have done… we fought to the line.”
Men’s Quadruple Sculls – Bronze
Leander’s Cedol Dafydd, Tobias Schröder, Rory Harris, and Callum Dixon claimed bronze in a fast field dominated early by Germany. Italy moved late, but GB held position to secure a strong podium finish.
Harris commented:
“I’m proud of the medal we’ve won… it’s a real team effort.”
Women’s Four – Fifth
Leander’s Eleanor Brinkhoff, with Sarah Marshall, Angharad Broughton, and Holly Youd, finished fifth in a race where three crews broke the World Best Time. For Marshall, Broughton, and Youd, this marked their senior World Championship debut.
Women’s Double Sculls – Seventh Overall
Leander’s Sarah McKay and Cam Nyland won the B Final after leading from 500m and controlling the race to the line.
McKay said:
“We executed our plan and enjoyed every minute of it.”
All photos with thanks to Benedict Tufnell and British Rowing.
