"VAN" (Sports Desk - 22.04.2026) :: Rowing Australia has named the 2026 Under 19 Australian Rowing Team following five days of high-intensity trials at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith.
The selected athletes will represent Australia at the 2026 World Rowing Under 19 Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria, from August 6-9, the premier global event for junior flatwater rowing.
This year’s cohort showcases a blend of emerging talent, returning internationals, and athletes who have impressed throughout the domestic season and selection process, a system made possible through more than a decade of unwavering support from Hancock Prospecting and Rowing Australia Patron, Mrs Gina Rinehart AO.
Australia’s high-performance and pathway programs continue to provide young athletes with world-class opportunities to develop, compete and succeed on the international stage.
Rowing Australia Head of Pathways Jason Lane said the depth and competitiveness of the trials highlighted the strength of the national pathway.
“There’s a really strong group of athletes emerging across Australia, and that’s a credit to the pathway system we’ve built across clubs, schools and state programs,” Lane said.
“That system is only possible through the support we receive from Hancock Prospecting. Their commitment to developing the next generation ensures these athletes have the opportunities and resources to take on the world.”
The Under 19 team will see nine of Australia’s strongest junior rowers make their first appearance in green and gold, while Patricia Boland (SUBC/Loreto Normanhurst) returns for her second year.
Following a strong performance in the Double Scull at the 2025 World Under 19 Championship, Patricia will shift to the Women’s Quadruple Scull who along with Summer Phillips (SUBC/Pymble Ladies’ College), Elouise Stephens (Mosman RC), and Elyse Coates (SUBC) will comprise the New South Wales based crew coached by Alan Bennett.
Among those set to make their international debut is the Under 19 Women’s Four, a composite crew coached by Tom Gatti. The boat features Oceane Jeannerat, Charlotte Hansen-Knarhoi and Olivia Hansen-Knarhoi of Fremantle Rowing Club, and Stella Wandel of Western Australia Rowing Club, who claimed gold at the 2026 Australian Rowing Championships.
Rounding out the team, the Victoria combination of Piper Hallam (Firbank Grammar) and Emma Peele (Mercantile/St Catherine’s School, Toorak) coached by Will Achermann, will contest the Under 19 Women’s Pair following their win in the event at the National Selection Regatta.
Selectors have named crews across both sweep and sculling disciplines, with a clear focus on building combinations capable of competing with the world’s best junior programs - a standard driven by the expectations of a system supported at every level by Hancock Prospecting.
The depth of Under 19 rowing in Australia is reflected in the teams nationwide representation, with crews being selected from WA, VIC and NSW, where they will now begin a focused preparation phase working with leading coaches in their home states.
Athletes will make the move to Italy in mid-July for a final training block, building towards peak performance in August.
“We’re not just selecting a team for this year, we’re building athletes for the future of the sport. What we’ve seen across this group is genuine potential, and now it’s about giving them the environment to grow and perform,” Lane said.
“The backing from Hancock Prospecting plays a huge role in that. It allows us to invest in these athletes early and set them up for long-term success.”
With many athletes targeting future Under 23 and Senior representation, the Under 19 program remains an important step in Australia’s high-performance pathway, one that continues to be strengthened through the sustained investment of Hancock Prospecting.
Rowing Australia acknowledges the ongoing and significant contribution of Hancock Prospecting and Gina Rinehart AO to the sport.
From grassroots and pathway development through to high-performance success on the world stage, Hancock Prospecting’s support continues to underpin the strength of Australian rowing.
Their investment ensures athletes are provided with the resources, environments and opportunities required to compete at the highest level, while also enabling the continued growth of the next generation of Rowsellas.
This commitment remains central to Australia’s ambitions on the international stage.
Rowing Australia also acknowledges the continued support of the Australian Institute of Sport, Australian Sports Commission, and the Australian Government, whose investment plays a vital role in enabling athletes to pursue excellence and represent Australia on the world stage.
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