Time for New Zealand rowers to show they’re up for the next Olympics
New Zealand duo Ben Taylor, left, and Oliver Welch in the men’s coxless pair at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai, China,
Photo: Photosport
The selectors have decided where New Zealand is best placed to succeed on the world stage and now is the time for the athletes to prove them right.
New Zealand has 24 rowers in eight boats competing in the first World Cup Rowing regatta of the year in Spain this weekend.
After a year of development following the Paris Olympics, 2026 is when positions will start being finalised in boats with Olympic qualification just a year away.
There are nine debutants in the current squad but there is also plenty of experience, while some older hands are poised to return to elite competition over the next year.
World champions Oliver Welch and Ben Taylor in the men’s pair head the squad along with members of the women’s four who won a world championship bronze medal last year.
Rowing New Zealand general manager of performance Judith Hamilton said now was the time to start finalising the boats they hoped to have competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
“The strategy last year was to give the opportunity for athletes who had come through the pathway,” Hamilton told RNZ.
Women’s Four Alana Sherman, Isla Blake, Juliette Lequeux and Beckie Leigh of New Zealand at the World Rowing Cup Lucerne, Switzerland, 2025.
Photo: Β© Rowing NZ 2025 / PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand rowers finished with three medals at the 2025 World Championships, including a gold in the men’s pair.
“The expectations have lifted for this year and the athletes have (lifted) as well in terms of their progress over last year.
“I think we’re well placed and on track and I only see us stepping up again this year and into the first Olympic qualification in 2027,” Hamilton said.
The national body has set a target of three plus medals at the Olympics.
Their priority crews at the moment are the men’s pair (Welch and Taylor) and men’s double (Finlay Hamill and Ben Mason), the women’s four (Ella Cossill, Kate Haines, Isla Blake and Alana Sherman) and women’s quad (Veronica Wall, Rebecca Leigh, Stella Clayton-Greene and Olivia Hay).
“It is based on where our selectors see our best opportunity is for the future.”
However, Hamilton does expect to have more boats being considered as “contenders”.
“Everyone is stepping up and raising the standard which is what we expect our athletes to do.”
Hamilton said it was important that the athletes lift their performances during the two World Cup regattas (Spain this week and Bulgaria next month) so they can confirm their best opportunity for success at the World Championships in the Netherlands in August.
Unfortunately there are no singles scullers competing over the next month and so it is unlikely that there will be any selected for the world champs.
Emma Twigg is now competing in Beach Sprint while recent men’s performers Logan Ullrich and Tom Mackintosh are both taking some time out.
“Right now we do not have the athletes that would specialize in the single, but we have some potential Olympians that are returning after being in the single before. As we get closer conversations will happen over where to put our best athletes with the best opportunity for success.”
The 2027 World Championships in Switzerland will be the first opportunity to qualify for LA28 Olympics.
Ben Taylor and Oliver Welch of New Zealand celebrate winning the Men’s Coxless Pair Final at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai.
Photo: Β© Rowing NZ 2025 / PHOTOSPORT
New Zealand crews at the Rowing World Cup 1, Seville, Spain 29-31 May
- Men’s pair: Oliver Welch and Ben Taylor
- Women’s pair: Juliette Lequeux and Katherine Lush
- Men’s double sculls: Finlay Hamill and Ben Mason
- Women’s double sculls: Sophie Egnot-Johnson and Eva Hofmans
- Men’s four: Joshua Vodanovich, Harry Fitzpatrick, Campbell Crouch, Fred Vavasour
- Women’s four: Ella Cossill, Kate Haines, Isla Blake, Alana Sherman
- Men’s quadruple sculls: Ben Olifiers, Oscar Ruston, Callum Tutbury, Arie Rasmussen Magasiva
- Women’s quadruple sculls: Veronica Wall, Rebecca Leigh, Stella Clayton-Greene, Olivia Hay.
Sign up for NgΔ Pitopito KΕrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.