2025 World Rowing Coastal Championships and Beach Sprint Finals – Manavgat, Antalya, Türkiye

The World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals were conducted at Manavgat, Antalya, Türkiye on 6th-9th November 2025. They were originally scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil but the host withdrew in about June 2025 causing World Rowing to undertake a process for an alternative host.

No World Rowing Coastal Championships were held in 2025.

The Australian team was selected in August 2025 and spent time training and racing together.

At the time of selection, RA reported as follows. 

Rowing Australia Performance Director Paul Thompson MBE said the team reflects both the rapid development of the discipline and the depth of talent emerging across the country.

“This is an exciting squad. We have Olympians, national champions and young talent coming together to represent Australia in one of the sport’s most dynamic and demanding disciplines,” Thompson said. “Our strong results last year showed that Australia is gaining momentum when it comes to the new Olympic sport of Beach Sprint rowing. This team has the potential to take further steps in 2025, with one eye firmly on 2028.”

Australia’s 2024 campaign produced three medals in Genoa and demonstrated the nation’s growing depth in coastal rowing, a discipline now included in the LA28 Olympic Games.

Australia finished with a bronze medal in the Mixed Quad Scull, our first medal in the open age categories.

Australian Mixed Quad on the podium after winning the B Final and hence bronze medal
Photo from World Rowing - photographer Detlev Seyb

After the regatta, RA reported on the event as follows. Rowing Australia Performance Director Paul Thompson MBE praised the crew’s rise through the rounds, with their momentum growing with every race.

“The quad was fabulous, they just got better as the competition went on,” Thompson said. “With each round, the pressure increased and they rose to the occasion every time, delivering their best exactly when it counted.”

For a group not yet in their mid-20s, the medal reflected a rapid upward trajectory.

“Those athletes were medallists in the U19 races last year, so they’re really starting to build momentum in their careers.”

Australia’s solo athletes, Spencer Turrin OAM in the Men’s Solo and Elizabeth Newell in the Women’s Solo, both advanced to the knockout stage and delivered gritty runs against world-class fields.

Thompson acknowledged their efforts, alongside those of the Mixed Double.

“So were Spencer and Elizabeth in the solos, and Blake [Whyatt] and Catherine [Khan] in the Double as well. You could see the standard was really high across the events.”

In the Mixed Double, Catherine Khan and Blake Whyatt fought through a deep time-trial field, finishing in 02:30.95.

With Beach Sprint rowing set for its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 2028 Games, the intensity at this year’s Finals was unmistakable.

Thompson highlighted the specific demands now shaping the discipline:

“For the beach athletes... physicality, skills. It's an Olympic event now, and it’s really competitive and exciting racing. Dexterity plays a role in it, as do all the different disciplines that are developing.”

His message to athletes considering the pathway was clear.

“The way I see it, we’ve got scullers, sweep rowers, coastal athletes, beach rowers. We need to help people make the right decisions about what best suits them so they have the best opportunity to perform on the Olympic stage.”

Results summaries by day

Day 1 results - 6th November 2025

Day 2 results - 7th November 2025

Day 3 results - 8th November 2025

Day 4 results - 9th November 2025