Photo by: Julia Kowacic
Women’s rowers shine on international stage at World Cup II
June 19, 2026 | Women's Rowing, Lightweight Rowing
Four Badger alumni win three gold, two silver in Bulgaria
PLOVDIV, Bulgaria – Four Wisconsin women's rowing alumni shined on the international stage at the 2026 World Rowing Cup II, with two winning a total of three gold medals and two others racing to silver medals. The event wrapped up on June 14.
Badgers Sophia Vitas and Isa Darvin helped the women's quadruple sculls cruise to victory over second place New Zealand by over eight seconds. The American crew won in 6:08.83 in the 2000-meter race.
Vitas, a 2024 Olympian, won her second gold of the event in the mixed double sculls with a time of 6:32.40, just over five seconds better than second place Uzbekistan.
Grace Joyce, also a 2024 Olympian, captured silver in a tight women's single sculls final. Serbia won in 7:20.69, with Joyce second in 7:22.21 and Uzbekistan third in 7:23.46. Ukraine also finished in the mix with a time of 7:23.89 in fourth place.
Belleville native and 2024 Olympian Lauren O'Connor earned her silver medal in the women's double sculls by just .01 seconds over China. Italy won in 6:45.36, with O'Connor's American boat charging past China for second in 6:47.72 and China third in 6:47.73. Austria raced among the group as well, but finished fourth in 6:49.18.
The next international event for the United States takes place June 26-28 at the 2026 World Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland.
Badgers Sophia Vitas and Isa Darvin helped the women's quadruple sculls cruise to victory over second place New Zealand by over eight seconds. The American crew won in 6:08.83 in the 2000-meter race.
Vitas, a 2024 Olympian, won her second gold of the event in the mixed double sculls with a time of 6:32.40, just over five seconds better than second place Uzbekistan.
Grace Joyce, also a 2024 Olympian, captured silver in a tight women's single sculls final. Serbia won in 7:20.69, with Joyce second in 7:22.21 and Uzbekistan third in 7:23.46. Ukraine also finished in the mix with a time of 7:23.89 in fourth place.
Belleville native and 2024 Olympian Lauren O'Connor earned her silver medal in the women's double sculls by just .01 seconds over China. Italy won in 6:45.36, with O'Connor's American boat charging past China for second in 6:47.72 and China third in 6:47.73. Austria raced among the group as well, but finished fourth in 6:49.18.
The next international event for the United States takes place June 26-28 at the 2026 World Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland.
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