The best U23 rowers from around the world descended on Plovdiv, Bulgaria from 19-23 July to take part in the 2023 World Rowing Under 23 Championships.
The regatta attracted over 750 athletes from 51 nations, who competed over five days of racing in 22 boat classes.
On the final day of the regatta, the spotlight was on the highly anticipated Men’s Four race - a showdown between Australia and Great Britain, a rivalry across all age groups and many years in this category.
The Australian team of VIS athletes Fraser Miscamble and Nicholas Smith and crewmates Nikolas Pender and Austin Reinehr led for the first quarter of the race. The final 1000m was classic neck-and-neck racing between the two crews, which was an excellent learning experience for the young oarsmen, who came away with a well-deserved silver medal.
The Men’s Quad Scull, consisting of VIS athlete Harrison Fox and crewmates Nicholas Blackman, Johnson Daubney and Alex Rossi, started well and trailed the Dutch crew narrowly for the majority of the race. In the final 500m, the Australians and their Dutch and German competitors were all in close contention for the gold medal. Ultimately, only half a second separated the crews at the finish, with Australia taking home a hard-fought bronze.
Australia finished with a gold, a silver and three bronze medals across the regatta.
“The results are a credit to the athletes, their coaches, families, support networks and the broader Pathway network that we have the great privilege of working with. It’s been a thrill to be a part of this team and I wish to thank everyone that has contributed to its success. We put in some clear plans and strategies following last year’s event and it was fantastic to see the results of that work come to fruition over the course of the regatta,” said Rowing Australia Deputy Performance Director Jaime Fernandez OLY.
In other rowing news, several VIS athletes have been in recent action at various international Rowing World Cups and regattas. Full list of results below:
| Paige Barr | Women's Eight | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 1st |
| Hayley Verbunt | Women's Eight | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 1st |
| Amanda Bateman | Women's Pair | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 4th |
| Benjamin Canham | Men's Eight | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 2nd |
| Simon Keenan | Men's Eight | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 2nd |
| Timothy Masters | Men's Eight | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 2nd |
| Jessica Morrison | Women's Pair | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 1st |
| James Robertson | Men's Eight | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 2nd |
| Lucy Stephan | Women's Four | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 3rd |
| Katrina Werry | Women's Four | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 3rd |
| Angus Widdicombe | Men's Eight | Rowing World Cup II | Varese, ITA | 2nd |
| Amanda Bateman | Women's Double Scull | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 4th |
| Lucy Stephan OAM | Women's Coxless 4 | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 2nd |
| Katrina Werry | Women's Coxless 4 | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 2nd |
| Paige Barr | Women's Eight | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 3rd |
| Hayley Verbunt | Women's Eight | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 3rd |
| Benjamin Canham | Men's Eight | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 1st |
| Simon Keenan | Men's Pair | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 1st (B Final) |
| Tim Masters | Men's Eight | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 1st |
| Jack Robertson | Men's Eight | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 1st |
| Angus Widdicombe | Men's Eight | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 1st |
| Jessica Morrison | Women's Pair | Rowing World Cup III | Lucerne, SUI | 2nd |
| Teesan Koo | P3 Mixed Coxed 4 | International Para Rowing Regatta | Gavirate, ITA | 1st |
| Teesan Koo | P3 Mixed Coxed 4 | International Para Rowing Regatta | Gavirate, ITA | 1st |
