Olympic champion Spencer Turrin OAM spearheads Aussie Beach Sprint squad

A blend of Olympic excellence, rising talent and coastal pedigree will fly the flag for Australia with the unveiling of the Rowsellas squad for the 2025 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Antalya, Turkey, from November 6-9.

Australia’s 2024 campaign produced three medals in Genoa and demonstrated the nation’s growing depth in coastal rowing, a discipline now included in the LA28 Olympic Games.

Rowing Australia Performance Director Paul Thompson MBE said the team reflects both the rapid development of the discipline and the depth of talent emerging across the country.

“This is an exciting squad. We have Olympians, national champions and young talent coming together to represent Australia in one of the sport’s most dynamic and demanding disciplines,” Thompson said.

“Our strong results last year showed that Australia is gaining momentum when it comes to the new Olympic sport of Beach Sprint rowing. This team has the potential to take further steps in 2025, with one eye firmly on 2028.”

Leading the squad is New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) scholarship holder Spencer Turrin OAM, a Tokyo 2020 Olympic Champion in the Men’s Four and recent Men’s Eight finalist at the Paris 2024 Games.

Turrin returns to the Beach Sprint circuit after making his debut in the Coastal Mixed Quad in 2024, bringing big-race experience and raw power to the Coastal Men’s Solo.

Joining him is West Australian Blake Whyatt, an Australian Beach Sprint Champion in 2024.

Whyatt made his senior international debut at the 2024 World Finals and returns in 2025 in the Coastal Mixed Double Sculls with debutant Catherine Khan of ANU Boat Club.

Elizabeth Newell, a two-time national Beach Sprint champion, will race the Coastal Women’s Solo.

A consistent performer across multiple coastal events, Newell is aiming to improve on her top eight finish from Genoa.

In the Coastal Mixed Quadruple Sculls, the future of Australian coastal rowing is on full display.

Another NSWIS scholarship holder, Sophia Wightman, was named on the team, she’ll make her World Beach Sprint Final debut in the Coastal Mixed Quadruple Sculls.

At just 13 years old, Ryder Taylor became a World Rowing Under 19 Champion in 2022 in the Men’s Coxed Four. Now 16, the UTS Haberfield coxswain earns his first Rowsella call-up as he transitions into the coastal format.

He joins Phoebe Robinson, a 2023 World Beach Sprint winner in the PR3 Coastal Mixed Double and a dual Under 19 World Championships representative.

Robinson also claimed Bronze at the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in the Women’s Four and was crowned the 2024 NCAA First Varsity 4+ National Champion with the University of Texas.

Making her debut alongside them is Sophia Wightman, one of New South Wales’ top emerging athletes, whose selection signals her rapid rise through the coastal ranks. 

Oscar Scheel-Gamborg and Samuel Forbes round out the Mixed Quad. The two of them won Bronze at the 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in the Under 19 Men’s Double Sculls.

Forbes also collected a World Rowing Silver in the Under 19 Mixed Double.

The selected crew will first take to the sand at the 2025 Australian Rowing Beach Sprint Championships at Monterey Beach, NSW, an important stepping stone in their preparation for the world stage.

2025 Australian Beach Sprint Rowsellas

Coastal Men’s Solo (CM1x)

Spencer Turrin OAM (#782 – NSW / NSWIS / Sydney Rowing Club)

Coastal Women’s Solo (CW1x)

Elizabeth Newell (#929 – QLD / University of Queensland Boat Club)

Coastal Mixed Double Sculls (CMix2x)

Catherine Khan* (ACT / ACTAS / Australian National University Boat Club), Blake Whyatt (#928 – WA / WAIS / West Australian Rowing Club)

Coastal Mixed Quadruple Sculls (CMix4x+)

Ryder Taylor* (NSW / UTS Haberfield Rowing Club), Phoebe Robinson* (QLD / University of Queensland Boat Club), Sophia Wightman* (NSW / NSWIS / Sydney University Boat Club), Oscar Scheel-Gamborg* (NSW / Mosman Rowing Club), Samuel Forbes* (QLD / University of Queensland Boat Club)

*Denotes World Beach Sprints Finals debut

Nick Jones, Rowing Australia