Rowing | Double Podium Glory: SA Rowers Shine at U23 Worlds and University Games

This past weekend, South African rowing delivered a wave of inspiring performances at two major international events – the U23 World Rowing Championships in Poznan, Poland, and the World University Games in Germany.

Across both competitions, South African athletes exceeded expectations, proving the country’s growing depth of talent and the strength of its rowing community.

U23 World Championships – Poland

The U23 squad stood out with a medal-winning performance and multiple strong finishes. Chloe Cresswell led the charge, winning a silver medal in the lightweight women’s single sculls, a race that showcased her technical precision and fighting spirit. Close behind, her training partner at Tuks University, Doné Erasmus, representing Zimbabwe, secured a commendable sixth place in the same event. It’s great to see such strong representation in a top final from the African continent.

In the women’s single sculls, Danelia Price-Hughes battled through a tough field to claim 8th place. Dani, who previously earned silver at the Junior World Championships last year and has spent this year training in the UK, continues her upward trajectory as she transitions into the more experienced age groups. On the men’s side, Braden Howard placed 11th out of a massive entry of 28 boats in the men’s single, confirming his status as a rising star. A former junior world bronze medallist in the men’s pair (2023), Braden will now take his talent to La Salle University. Dani and Braden are both still only 19 and will be eyeing U23 medals in the years ahead.

The team was supported by coaches Caitlin Reed and Thato Mokoena, who were instrumental in guiding the athletes through the high-pressure environment of world championship racing.

World University Games – Germany

Simultaneously, South African university rowers put on a stellar show in Germany, with athletes from both the Western Cape and Gauteng flying the flag high. The highlight of the regatta came from the women’s pair of Courtney Westley and Katherine Williams, who claimed a silver medal in a hard-fought final, their powerful go-for-home pulling them to within a second of first place.

The men’s pair of Phumi Tshabalala and Jordan Craig delivered a powerful performance to win the B Final, finishing 7th overall. The men’s four from Stellenbosch University – Ehros Smith, Robert Hirschson, Merwe Engelbrecht, and Brian Thomson – demonstrated grit and teamwork to finish 9th overall after a series of tight races. In the men’s double, a composite crew of Ryan Dellbridge (UCT) and Stefan Breytenbach (Stellenbosch) finished 18th overall in a highly competitive field.

The standard of competition in Germany was incredibly high, but South Africa’s crews showed determination, skill, and immense promise for the future.

A Bright Future for South African Rowing

The performances across both championships have ignited excitement within the rowing community. From athletes training abroad to the strong university programs in Gauteng and the Western Cape, South African rowing is steadily building a foundation of unity and excellence. Thato Mokoena, u23 Head coach and coach of Tuks university thanked the support from home and said “without other people, you’ll never go rowing”.

These results highlight not only individual excellence but also the country’s growing ability to produce competitive crews across multiple boat classes. With young talent continuing to rise through the ranks, the future of South African rowing looks extremely promising.

For more information, visit rowsa.co.za or follow @rowingrsa/@rmbnationalsquad on social media.