New Zealand’s Olympic medallists and world champions will race alongside emerging talent when the country’s rowing squad competes at the 2026 World Championships in Amsterdam from 24–30 August. The team announcement, confirmed after selection trials in late June, reflects the strength running through the national programme as it builds towards Los Angeles 2028.
Oli Welch and Ben Taylor carry genuine pressure into the championships. The pair won gold at both World Cup regattas this season and finished just 0.54 seconds outside the Olympic record set by Hamish Bond and Eric Murray in 2012. That kind of margin matters. Welch and Taylor have been methodical about their improvement, staying grounded despite their dominance. “Both athletes have remained incredibly humble and continue to make significant gains in training,” their coach Mike Rodger noted. Defending a world title in Amsterdam means chasing faster times against crews that have spent months hunting them.
The Women’s Four of Alana Sherman, Isla Blake, Kate Haines and Ella Cossill has remained unchanged, a sign of continuity after collecting bronze and silver medals across the World Cup circuit. They finished behind the United States at World Cup II—the same crew crowned world champions in Shanghai last year. Sherman, Blake, Haines and Cossill know what needs to happen. Coach Tom Stannard described the crew as heading into Amsterdam “with a huge fire in their bellies after a strong World Cup series, eager to show what they are truly capable of.”
Ben Mason and Finn Hamill showed marked improvement between their first and second World Cup outings, taking silver in the Men’s Double at the Bulgarian regatta. They raced together in Shanghai last year, finishing eighth overall. Their trajectory suggests they have room to move up the standings in a field that remains extremely tight across all boat classes.
For Sophie Egnot-Johnson and Eva Hofmans, the Women’s Double represents their first Elite World Championships. Both made it through to the A Final at World Cup II in Bulgaria, giving them genuine international racing experience. What matters now is how they build on that foundation over the next two months of training before departure on 9 August.
The team spans eight boat classes—four, pair, double scull, eight and more—drawn from clubs across the country. Lisa Holton will manage the squad. Four athletes are travelling as reserves, providing depth if injury strikes before racing begins. The World Cup campaign delivered multiple medals and solid performances across the programme, giving everyone involved a platform of confidence heading to the Netherlands.
