Australian Women’s Eight powers to gold

The Australian Rowing Team has opened its 2026 campaign in sensational fashion, with the Women’s Eight winning the Gold Medal at World Cup I in Seville, Spain.

In a commanding performance in Sunday’s A-Final, the crew led for much of the race to claim Australia’s first women’s international A-Final victory of the new Olympic cycle.

The highlight of the final day for Australia was the win by Australia’s Women’s Eight. But Australia also won the Silver Medal in the Women’s Four A-Final, and the Women’s Pair of Katherine Easton and Emmie Frederico placed fifth in their A-Final.

Australia also shone in the two B-Finals it was represented in on Sunday. New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Tara Rigney OLY won the B-Final of the Women’s Single Sculls for a 7^th place ranking in what was her first international regatta since her fourth at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Australia also placed an impressive second in the B-Final of the Women’s Quadruple Sculls for an 8^th place ranking in their debut international regatta together as a crew.

It was an impressive display by the Australian Women’s team, in its first regatta since leaving left the cool climes of Australia for the heat of Europe on May 21.

“The women’s team have shown both their class and potential here in Seville,” RA Performance Director Paul Thompson said.

“The Eight and Four are fighting at the front of the field, the Pair is in the A Final, Tara has improved with each race as she comes back from a break and the youngsters in the quad were competitive.

“The racing always gets tighter as the season progresses and the women can prepare for that with confidence from what they achieved in Seville.”

In the Women’s Eight, the Australian crew of Georgie Gleeson (bow), Eliza Gaffney (2), Lily Triggs OLY (3), Ella Bramwell (4), Samantha Morton (5), Paige Barr OLY (6), Jaime Ford (7, NSWIS), Laura Gourley OLY (s, NSWIS) and Hayley Verbunt OLY (coxswain) raced their Semi-Final in Lane 4, had a terrific start and were second at 500m, 0.62 behind Romania.

However, the Ellen Randell-coached Australians, who were third in Friday’s Preliminary race to determine the lane draw, powered on to take the lead by 750m.

“We were just thinking, ‘hit the start hard, try get into a rhythm, emulate or wind …’ I’d say we executed pretty well,” Samantha Morton, the 5 Seat, told Worldrowing.com.

At 1000m, Australia was still just in front, by 0.16 over Netherlands in second place and 0.58 on third placed Great Britain who are coached by Randell’s brother, Andy.

As tight as the race was, Australia responded to the pressure of an expected challenge from their opposition superbly. Instead of waiting for it, Australia unleashed a major effort in the third 500m under the call from coxswain Hayley Verbunt to extend their lead by 1500 to 0.84 over Netherlands and 1.08 over Great Britain.

As Paige Barr, the 6 Seat, told Worldrowing.com of their approach to the second 1000 metres: “In the ‘prelim,’ we did have a good second ‘K.’

“So, we wanted to really make the most of that and hit it even harder, and I think we did a pretty good job of that.

Australia’s reward for their calm, control and courage was a terrific win (6:08.35) over Netherlands (6:09.76) in second and Great Britain (6:10.25), in third. Romania (6:12.20) and Germany (6:20.71) followed in fourth and fifth places respectively.

For the Australian Eight it was the best start to the international season.

“This is a new crew, some fresh faces. We’re working at the chemistry, but it’s clicking well, and this is massive confidence in the bank for what’s to come,” said Morton.

For Barr, even better … Sunday was her birthday!

“A very good way to celebrate my birthday,” she said. “Huge day. Best birthday ever. It’s great to do it with the girls.”

In the Women’s Four, Australia won the Silver Medal in their A-Final in a magnificent tussle with Netherlands who had to fight from behind to take the lead in the third 500m to win.

Racing in Lane 4, the crew of Georgia Patten OLY (bow), Bronwyn Cox OLY (2), Jacqueline Swick OLY, and Georgie Rowe OLY (stroke, NSWIS) led from the start.

But it was clear their Dutch opponents would be up for the challenge as the gap between the two crews was 0.70 at 500m and 0.16 at 1000m in Australia’s favour.

It was in the third 500m that Netherlands threw the gauntlet down to take the lead from the James Harris-coached Australians. With 1250m raced, Netherlands just managed to edge their bow in front, and at 1500m the gap between them was 0.73. Meanwhile, New Zealand were the best of the rest to be third at 4.08s to the two leaders.

However, while the Dutch had impressively asserted themselves, by no means did Australia capitulate. As Australia’s rate rose to 40 strokes per minute, the gap between them and Netherlands narrowed with every stroke, and suddenly the Dutch found themselves having to respond and increase their rate to 44 strokes per minute.

Crossing the finish, the gap between the Gold Medal winners, Netherlands (6:34.92) and second placed Silver Medallists Australia (6:35.45) was a canvass – or 0.53. Meanwhile, New Zealand (6:43.24) finished in third place to take the Bronze Medal.