With the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon, the world of rowing is gearing up for yet another spectacle of athleticism, endurance and strategy. Rowing, known for its captivating visuals and breathtaking locales, is poised to return to the Olympic stage for the Paris Games. The pathway to Paris begins at the 2023 World Rowing Championships where Team Canada rowers have their first opportunity to secure their nation’s quota spots at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Taking place at the Ada Ciganlija Regatta course situated on the picturesque Sava Lake in the heart of Belgrade, Serbia, the World Championships begin Sunday, September 3 and run through Sunday, September 10. Rowing Canada Aviron (RCA) is fielding 39 of the nation’s best rowers in 10 boat classes, who are aiming to meet the qualification standards for the boat classes and to make their mark on the world stage.

Unlike other Olympic and Paralympic sports, such as swimming or athletics, in rowing the individual rowers do not automatically qualify for the Games. But rather the rowing qualification process sees the nation’s boat earn a quota slot for the Olympics and Paralympics next year. Thus, rowing is a true team sport, where a crew of rowers must work in harmony, blending their strengths and skills, and the recognition and reward for their collaboration, discipline, and shared achievement is the boat’s qualification for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

In the Men’s Coxless Pair (M2-), the top 11 nations in Serbia will earn qualification for one of the coveted quota spots for Paris, while in what is sure to be one of the most competitive classes of the regatta, the Men’s Coxed Eight (M8+) competition demands a top-five finish for an automatic qualification berth. For Men’s Eight team member Joel Cullen (University of British Columbia), the crew is building well towards the World Championships, and he believes the crew is motivated to take on the world’s best rowers.

“The boat is feeling really good right now, and we are taking great strides towards where we need to be, so we are excited to see where we are,” Cullen said. “I think the reason why I do this and why everyone here does this is to compete against the best of the best. So, everyone is dialling up their training, so it’s exciting to see and we can’t wait to race.”

In the highly competitive Men’s Single Sculls (M1x) category, a top nine finish to secure a qualification spot for Canada for the Paris Olympics. While in the Men’s Quadruple Sculls (M4x) event, the competition is equally fierce, with only the top seven crews earning quota spots at the World Championships for their respective nations. Acknowledging the crucial qualifying element of the regatta, Dan de Groot (St. Catharines Rowing Club) believes that it will only motivate him and the rest of the Men’s Quad (M4x), including Liam Smit (University of British Columbia Rowing Club), Terek Been (Montreal Rowing Club) and Steven Rosts (Ridley Graduate Boat Club), towards their shared objectives.

“It’s pretty special in a qualifying year to make the team, there’s more at stake and I want to help qualify the boat for Canada,” De Groot shares. “Competing with the crew is going to be lots of fun. We haven’t raised this lineup yet but it’s a pretty exciting one, and I think we have found something special in the training. So going to be exciting to put it to the line and see what we can do.”

 

 

 

 

 

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Turning the spotlight to the women’s events, the Women’s Lightweight Double Sculls (LW2x) competition promises fast-paced action, with only the top seven nations earning automatic qualification. In what has been one of the most competitive categories during the World Rowing international season where gold medals have been awarded by margins of less than one second, the Women’s Lightweight Double is sure to be a category to keep an eye on all week long. Jenny Casson (Kingston Rowing Club) acknowledges that while competition is going to be tough, she and long-time teammate Jill Moffatt (University of Western Ontario) are ready for the challenge.

“Having only seven spots to qualify for the Olympics next year, it will be a race to the finish line for all of us and should make for some exciting side-by-side action,” Casson said. “We have been working hard with our coach Jeremy Ivey this past year to be race-ready and prepared to have our best race on the right day. Having raced in Belgrade in 2018, we know the course can be very challenging. Known for wild winds and very hot temperatures, we are bracing ourselves for all racing experiences.”

For the Women’s Quadruple Sculls (W4x) and Women’s Coxless Four (W4-), the magic number is seven – the top seven crews in each category will earn the highly sought-after qualification slot for their nation. While for the Women’s Double Sculls (W2x) and the Women’s Coxless Pair (W2-) will see the top 11 nations secure the qualification quota slot for the Paris Games.

The Women’s Coxed Eight (W8+), which has always been one of the most thrilling events, will reward the top five nations with the prestigious quota slot for the Paris Olympics. Our Canadian Women’s Eight crew has continued to build momentum throughout the competitive World Rowing season, most recently winning silver at World Rowing Cup III in Switzerland. The crew’s cohesion has grown steadily during an intense training camp, where the entire Canadian squad remains steadfast in their mutual motivation. Alexis Cronk (University of Victoria) views this collective determination as a driving force that will undoubtedly propel them towards their objectives in Serbia.

“We’ve definitely had some big moments of learnings and improvements during the season, but we’re really excited to showcase all of what we’ve been through and learnt at the World Championships,” Cronk said. “We’ve built a really great team culture throughout the entire squad, and we can all build off each other and support one another at the Championships.”

As the countdown to the 2023 World Rowing Championships draws near, Team Canada’s rowers are ready to take on the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

We are now less than one year until the Paris 2024 Olympics as excitement mounts and anticipation grows among athletes and fans alike. The stage is set for an unforgettable celebration of sport, unity, and human achievement in the heart of France’s iconic capital. As the world prepares to witness history in the making, the Paris Olympics promises to be a grand spectacle of sporting excellence and international camaraderie.

To support the national team, RCA has recently launched an initiative entitled Patrons for Paris to power the teams on their journey to the Paris 2024 Games.

We invite you to join the movement and become a valuable member of a supportive community that will embrace the team and help them achieve success on the international stage. 

LEARN MORE ABOUT PATRONS FOR PARIS

 

2023 World Rowing Championships – Canadian Team:

Women’s Coxed Eight (W8+) –
Top five nations receive Olympic qualification

Morgan Rosts – Ridley Graduate Boat Club / Ontario

Cassidy Deane – Kingston Rowing Club / British Columbia

Avalon Wasteneys – University of Victoria Rowing Club / British Columbia

Sydney Payne – Brentwood College Rowing Club / Ontario

Kirsten Edwards – University of Victoria Rowing Club / British Columbia

Alexis Cronk – University of Victoria Rowing Club / British Columbia

Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski – Club d’Aviron Knowlton / Alberta

Jessica Sevick – University of British Columbia / Calgary Rowing Club / Alberta

Kristen Kit (cox) – University of British Columbia / St. Catharines Rowing Club / Ontario

 

Men’s Coxed Eight (M8+) –
Top five nations receive Olympic qualification

Will Crothers – Kingston Rowing Club / Ontario

Jakub Buczek – St. Catharines Rowing Club / Ontario

Curtis Ames – Calgary Rowing Club / Alberta

Gavin Stone – Queen’s University Rowing Club / Island Lake Rowing Club / Ontario

Cody Bailey – London Western Rowing Club / Ontario

Liam Keane – Victoria City Rowing Club / British Columbia

Joel Cullen – University of British Columbia / University of Washington / British Columbia

Ryan Clegg – Western University Rowing Club / Ontario

Laura Court (cox) – St. Catharines Rowing Club / Ontario

 

Men’s Coxless Pair (M2-) –
Top 11 nations receive Olympic qualification

Josh King – Ottawa Rowing Club / Ontario

Luke Gadsdon – Leander Boat Club / Brock University / Ontario

 

Women’s Coxless Pair (W2-) –
Top 11 nations receive Olympic qualification

Caileigh Filmer – University of Victoria Rowing Club / British Columbia

Maya Meschkuleit – Don Rowing Club / Ontario

 

Women’s Double Scull (W2x) –
Top 11 nations receive Olympic qualification

Katie Clark – University of British Columbia Rowing Club / British Columbia

Marilou Duvernay-Tardif – Knowlton Rowing Club / Quebec

 

Women’s Coxless Four (W4-) –
Top seven nations receive Olympic qualification

Rebecca Zimmerman – University of Victoria Rowing Club / Brockville Rowing Club / Ontario

Kristen Siermachesky – Brockville Rowing Club / BC NextGen Performance Centre / Ontario

Kristina Walker – Kingston Rowing Club / University of British Columbia Rowing Club / Ontario

Piper Battersby – Victoria City Rowing Club / University of Victoria Rowing Club / British Columbia

 

Men’s Quadruple Scull (M4x) –
Top seven nations receive Olympic qualification

Liam Smit – University of British Columbia Rowing Club / South Africa / British Columbia

Terek Been – Montreal Rowing Club / Quebec

Steven Rosts – Ridley Graduate Boat Club / Ontario

Daniel De Groot – St. Catharines Rowing Club / Ontario

 

Women’s Quadruple Scull (W4x) –
Top seven nations receive Olympic qualification

Shannon Kennedy – London Western Rowing Club / Ontario

Grace VandenBroek – Peterborough Rowing Club / Trent University / Ontario

Carling Zeeman – Sudbury Rowing Club / Ontario

Elisa Bolinger – University of Western Ontario / Ontario

 

Women’s Lightweight Double Scull (LW2x) –
Top seven nations receive Olympic qualification

Jill Moffatt – Western University Rowing Club / Ontario

Jennifer Casson – Kingston Rowing Club / Ontario

 

Men’s Single Scull (M1x) –
Top nine nations receive Olympic qualification

Trevor Jones – Peterborough Rowing Club / Ontario

 

Coaches

Lauren Fisher

Jeremy Ivey

Maksym Kepskyy

Dane Lawson

Carol Love

John Wetzstein