Four Medals, Two Countries: The U19 World Rowing Championships and Junior Pan American Games
- Rowing Canada Aviron
- Aug 29, 2025
Rowing Canada Aviron’s (RCA) Junior rowing crews turned out fantastic international results in August. From August 6-10, the U19 World Championship crew represented Canada in Trakai, Lithuania, against top up-and-coming international talent. Across the ocean, the Junior Pan American Games crew also repped the maple leaf, walking away with notable results in Asuncion, Paraguay.
Starting a full week of racing at the U19 World Rowing Championships, Ciana Della Siega and Novella Rusman finished 2nd in their heat in the Women’s Pair (W2-) on August 7th, advancing to the Semifinal 1.
“I think what separated my experience at this competition from the previous two Junior World Championships I’ve compete in, was that we were so excited to race and show what we could do!” Shared Novella Rusman.
On August 9th, the W2- continued their success, finishing 2nd in the Semifinal 1 in 07:33.03, advancing on to the Final A. The Men’s Four (M4-) also finished 2nd in their race, 00:00.02 behind South Africa in the Final C, marking one of the closest finishes at the event.
Fans gathered to cheer on Ciana and on August 10th as they competed in the Final. After a tight race against Romania and Uzbekistan, the W2- won bronze in 08:10.72
Rusman spoke about her experience in the Final:
“In the last 750m, we both had a moment where we knew, if we go now, we can actually do it. It was a pretty surreal moment. Crossing the finish line and falling back to hug Ciana was a moment I had dreamed about since I started rowing. Standing on the podium and watching the flag raised in front of me, with the leaf on my chest, and the Canadian crowd hanging off the fence, I felt like I made Canada proud, and that was the most special moment of it all.”
The Junior World Championship team received coaching support from Marc Addison, Siobhan McLaughlin, Miki Chantler, Katie Bahain-Steenman, and Olympian Dave Calder, who also supported the Pan Am team.
In Asuncion, Paraguay, the Junior Pan Am crews thrilled Canadian fans with an abundance of exciting results.
“I had a lot of nerves, but a lot of excitement for the final race in the four,” says Canadian team rower, Ella McKinley. “It was the first medal opportunity at the JR PanAm Games for Canada, so naturally we all felt pressure to perform.”
The Women’s Coxless Four (W4-) with Ella McKinley, Alessandra Tuttle, Riley Richardson, and Firinne Rolfe won bronze in the Gold Medal Final in 06:48.74, just behind the crew from Paraguay.
“I think achieving the first medal for Canada built momentum going into the next races. Lots of the anxiousness pre-race was overshadowed by the pride of getting to race with the leaf,” says Ella.
In the Men’s Double Sculls (M2X), Kyland Mels and Oliver Baker finished 4th in the Gold Medal final right behind China and Brazil, narrowly missing a podium position. Similarly, Oliver Baker competed in the Men’s Single Sculls Final A, finishing 5th.
In the final two days of the Junior Pan American Games, Jalyn Mowry and Tess Friar finished third in the Final for the Women’s Double Sculls (W2X) in 07:23.60, winning Canada’s second bronze of the event.
Finishing the weekend on a high, the Women’s Eight (W8+), featuring Alessandra Tuttle, Ella McKinley, Riley Richardson, Annika Goodwyn, Maylie Valiquette, Jalyn Mowry, Tess Friar, Firinne Rolfe, and Teija Patry, competed in their Gold Medal Final, winning silver in 06:27.64.
Maylie and Annika continued their medal success with the Eight after receiving a bronze medal at the U23 World Rowing Championships.
“It was an incredible opportunity to experience a multi-sport game. We got to cheer Canadian athletes from other sports, and celebrate our wins together,” says Ella.
With a multi-year plan in effect, RCA is looking forward to seeing these athletes from the U19 World Rowing Championships and the Junior Pan Am Championships continue on their journey of representing Canada on the world stage.
MORE CANADIAN RESULTS:
Junior Pan Am Games Results
FULL TEAM ROSTERS:
