Australia’s next generation of rowers have shown their strength and promise for the future with a five medal haul at the Under 23 World Rowing Championships in Trakai, Lithuania over the weekend.

With much of the focus currently on the start of the Olympic regatta at Eton Dorney on July 28, Australia’s under age armada showed they could play a large part at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games with a regatta that netted one gold, two silver the two bronze medals.

The Australia’s women’s quad scull led the way for the eight-boat Australian contingent with a breathtaking performance to win gold ahead of reigning world champions Germany.

Earlier in the regatta, the crew consisting of Rebekah Hooper (VIC), Madeleine Edmunds (QLD), Olympia Aldersey (SA) and Jessica Hall (QLD) had also set the world best time, and the final shaped up as a race between two crews.

Germany led Australia through 1000m, but an excellent third quarter of the race saw Australia take the lead by just a quarter of a second.

Australia was too strong for Germany over the closing stages of the race to win in a time of 6:56.33, almost 1.5 seconds clear of Germany, while New Zealand was a further five seconds adrift in third.

Both the Australian men’s four and women’s four produced excellent A Finals to win silver medals, while the men’s eight and men’s quad scull took home bronze in their respective finals.

The men’s four of Timothy Masters (VIC), Louis Snelson (NSW), Joshua Hicks (WA) and Owen Symington (VIC), selected from Australian athletes completing their studies at American universities, held second position for the whole 2000m to win silver in a time of 6:28.67, under three seconds behind Germany and half a length ahead of Great Britain.

The women’s four produced a stirring 500m to pass New Zealand and win the silver medal behind a strong Canadian crew.

Lucy Stephan (VIC), Katrina Bateman (VIC), Fiona Albert (QLD) and Charlotte Travers (QLD) were in third place at the 1500m mark, some three seconds adrift of New Zealand, but surged past their Tasman rivals to cross the line in 7:15.38.

On the final day of competition the men’s quad scull crew of Jay Ditmarsch (NSW), Ben Morley (QLD), Sasha Belonogoff (NSW) and Ryan Edwards (NSW) continued the momentum for Australia with a bronze medal behind the Ukraine and Italy.

In a fluctuating race Australia was fourth through 1000m, before improving to second with only 500m remaining, before settling for bronze in 6:01.00, just 0.13 of a second behind Italy.

The men’s eight capped off the excellent regatta for Australia with a bronze medal behind USA and Germany.

Australia recorded a time of 5:50.71 to finish just over a length down on the USA and one second clear of Great Britain in fourth.

Across the regatta Australia’s eight crews qualified for seven A Finals, with the regatta paving the way for many athletes to push for selection in the senior team in 2013.

Media Contact: David Polglase 0401 453 041