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Drama-filled women’s solo ends with maiden gold for Australia

World Rowing

New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) beach sprinter Bella Scammell won Australia’s first-ever gold medal in the coastal women’s solo at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao, China, on debut.

The finals in Qingdao came to an end on Tuesday with a packed day of 108 races, 10 finals and a spectacular showing from the hosts.

China ended top of the medal table with eight medals, including four golds, three silvers and a bronze. Spain won two gold medals, and Australia, the USA, Great Britain and Germany one each.

The results also confirmed the seven nations qualified for next year’s World Rowing Beach Sprint Series in Türkiye and China: China, Australia, Germany, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain and the USA. They qualified based on points garnered through the last 16 for the three Olympic-class events, the men’s and women’s solos and the mixed double sculls.

The women’s solo last eight was packed with drama. First, Christine Cavallo (USA) missed the buzzer, allowing Scammell to win in their quarterfinal. Scammell then benefitted from an error from two-time medallist Magdalena Lobnig (AUT), who went the wrong way around one of the slalom buoys in their semifinal, to make it to the final.

She faced Zhu Wenjie (CHN), who qualified after beating European champion Esther Briz (ESP) in the quarterfinal; Briz stumbled on her boat exit and Zhu was able to claim the win on the sand. Wenjie beat Bruna Parente (POR) in the semifinal.

Scammell looked strong in the final to take Australia’s first gold at any Beach Sprint Finals, with Zhu settling for silver. Lobnig’s bronze means she now has a full set of beach sprint medals, and has reached the podium three years in a row.

Scammell said: “I’ve been rowing for about 10 years now and this is by far the most fun I’ve had rowing. I guess that’s what it’s all about.”