Rowing Canada Aviron has announced the athletes chosen to represent Canada at the 2026 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam. The teams include veterans with previous World Championship experience and younger athletes making their senior-level appearances.
The regatta is set to take place from August 24 to 30, 2026, at the historic Bosbaan in the Netherlands. Over 850 competitors from 64 countries will compete in 23 boat classes, all striving to secure championship titles on the global stage.
Senior Men’s Head Coach Lauren Fisher views the selection as a strategic effort to build a long-term competitive pipeline. The program has prioritized developing junior and under-23 talent to ensure continued success at the senior level.
Tom Morris, the Senior Women’s Head Coach, highlighted the steady improvement across the women’s squad this season. He stressed the importance of combining seasoned athletes with new talent, allowing Canada to gauge its progress against top teams worldwide. She noted that the athletes push each other daily and have gained a strong sense of belief in their capabilities at the championship level.
The men’s team reported similar experiences. After the World Cup season, the athletes returned with a clearer understanding of race dynamics and what it takes to compete at the highest level. This insight has been incorporated into focused training to prepare for the 2026 World Championships.
The Canadian team is gearing up for a pre-competition training camp in Europe, which will occur before the World Championships. The event will include crews in five boat classes: the men’s single, men’s coxless four, women’s double, women’s quad, and women’s eight.
The team is finalizing training schedules to peak at the right time for the 2026 World Rowing Championships. As a major international event, it plays a key role in Canada’s Olympic preparation, with an eye on Los Angeles 2028 and beyond. CBC will offer live streaming, and race schedules and details can be found via Rowing Canada Aviron's website.
Building a strong team
Lauren Fisher highlighted the deliberate steps being taken to strengthen Canada’s high-performance system for the current Olympic cycle and for future competitions. Since the Paris Olympic Games, the focus has been on bolstering the talent pipeline by developing junior and under-23 athletes and advancing the young National Training Centre senior squad.
Tom Morris noted the women’s team has shown consistent development throughout the year. He expressed excitement about the chance to measure Canada’s progress against the world’s top teams. The mix of experienced rowers and emerging talent has created a solid foundation for success.
The balance of seasoned athletes and promising newcomers will be evident in Amsterdam. Some will return to the World Championship stage with their international experience, while others will make their first appearance in the senior event. Together, the group showcases the depth of talent in Canada’s high-performance program and the confidence developed throughout the year.
Siermachesky remarked that competing against top international teams has become a defining element of the team’s experience. The crew has grown together, challenged each other on a daily basis, and developed a strong belief in their abilities as individual units and as a collective group.
As the premier international regatta, the event gives Canadian rowers the opportunity to gain essential international racing experience and continue building momentum in their programs. Ryan Clegg, a member of the men’s national team, noted that the men’s program returned from the World Cup circuit with a better grasp of race dynamics and the requirements for competitiveness. With targeted training, the team is confident of achieving progress in Amsterdam at the World Championships.
Athletes representing Canada
The Canadian team consists of athletes from diverse locations and institutions. The senior men’s squad includes Ryan Clegg, Axel Ewashko, Aidan Hembruff, Trevor Jones, Steven Rosts, Samuel Stuart, and Samuel Stuart. These rowers represent a range of clubs and universities.
The senior women’s squad features Alizée Brien, Katie Clark, Alexis Cronk, Cassidy Dean, Shaye DePaiva, Marilou Duvernay Tardif, Sally Jones, Kristen Kit (Cox), Martine Nyhof, Alexandra Pidgeon, Kristen Siermachesky, Maylie Valiquette, Grace Vandenbroek, Madelyn Vandermeer, and Avalon Wasteneys. These athletes also represent a variety of clubs and universities.
How to follow the event
CBC will offer live streaming of the World Championships, and fans can check race schedules and event details through the Rowing Canada Aviron website. Additional information on the 2026 World Rowing Championships is available online.
