Photo by: USRowing
Vitas earned bronze, Darvin and Joyce represented the U.S. at first Shanghai Sprints
October 01, 2026 | Women's Rowing, Lightweight Rowing
A trio of Badgers took on the inaugural 2026 World Rowing Shanghai Sprints
SHANGHAI — Three Wisconsin Badger alumni competed for the United States at the 2026 World Rowing Shanghai Sprints this past weekend, led by Sophia Vitas who earned a bronze medal. Fellow Badgers Grace Joyce and Isa Darvin also competed in the first-of-its-kind elite event.
Vitas placed third in the women's single sculls, racing the 500m course in 1:49.699. She represented the U.S. in the mixed double sculls with Cedar Cunningham, placing seventh.
Previously, Vitas raced for the U.S. in the 2024 Paris Olympics in the double sculls event. She also earned first-place in the women's quadruple sculls and mixed double sculls at the 2026 World Cup II as well as third-place in the women's quadruple sculls and the mixed double sculls at the 2026 World Rowing Championships.
Darvin and Joyce raced in the women's double sculls quarterfinal, finishing with a time of 1:45.007 and falling to the World Team to grab sixth place. The duo also competed on the mixed eight crew recording a time of 1:25.194 to finish in fifth.
The pair recently raced together at the 2026 World Rowing Championships, placing 16th overall in the women's double sculls.
Darvin graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021 and started her rowing career as a walk-on to the openweight team. The Madison native has represented the senior national team twice. Darvin won first-place in the pair and mixed eight events for the U.S. at the 2023 Pan American Games as well as second-place in the women's four and eight events.
A Paris 2024 Olympian, Joyce raced with both the openweight and lightweight teams during her time as a Badger from 2017-19. She is an eight-time national team member and medaled twice at the 2023 Pan American Games, earning gold in the women's quadruple sculls and silver in the women's eight race.
The trio joined 85 other athletes across eight teams competing in the inaugural 2026 Shanghai Sprints. World Rowing launched this new international elite event to highlight intense, fast-paced competition showcasing worldwide talent. See all results and an overview of the event here.
Vitas placed third in the women's single sculls, racing the 500m course in 1:49.699. She represented the U.S. in the mixed double sculls with Cedar Cunningham, placing seventh.
Previously, Vitas raced for the U.S. in the 2024 Paris Olympics in the double sculls event. She also earned first-place in the women's quadruple sculls and mixed double sculls at the 2026 World Cup II as well as third-place in the women's quadruple sculls and the mixed double sculls at the 2026 World Rowing Championships.
Darvin and Joyce raced in the women's double sculls quarterfinal, finishing with a time of 1:45.007 and falling to the World Team to grab sixth place. The duo also competed on the mixed eight crew recording a time of 1:25.194 to finish in fifth.
The pair recently raced together at the 2026 World Rowing Championships, placing 16th overall in the women's double sculls.
Darvin graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2021 and started her rowing career as a walk-on to the openweight team. The Madison native has represented the senior national team twice. Darvin won first-place in the pair and mixed eight events for the U.S. at the 2023 Pan American Games as well as second-place in the women's four and eight events.
A Paris 2024 Olympian, Joyce raced with both the openweight and lightweight teams during her time as a Badger from 2017-19. She is an eight-time national team member and medaled twice at the 2023 Pan American Games, earning gold in the women's quadruple sculls and silver in the women's eight race.
The trio joined 85 other athletes across eight teams competing in the inaugural 2026 Shanghai Sprints. World Rowing launched this new international elite event to highlight intense, fast-paced competition showcasing worldwide talent. See all results and an overview of the event here.
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