Photo by: USRowing/Row2k
Vitas wins double bronze on weekend to lead five American Badgers at World Rowing Championships
August 30, 2026 | Women's Rowing
O’Connor takes fifth in women’s single sculls B Final on Sunday
AMSTERDAM – Franklin, Wisconsin, native and 2024 Olympian Sophia Vitas won bronze medals on Saturday and Sunday to close out racing for the five Wisconsin alumni representing Team USA at the 2026 World Rowing Championships.
Vitas finished in third to earn bronze on Saturday in the women's quadruple sculls. Her crew began in fifth, then moved into third by the midpoint and held there to the finish line, crossing in 6:10.33, just 0.55 seconds out of the silver medal. Netherlands won the event in 6:08.18.
On Sunday, Vitas and her mixed double sculls crew set a world's fastest time in the morning semifinals with a time of 6:22.42 over 2000 meters. Then in the A final later in the day, Vitas' crew charged late, but fell 0.41 seconds shy of second-place Ireland. The Americans won bronze in 6:22.75, with Netherlands setting a new world's fastest time for gold in 6.15.80.
Belleville, Wisconsin, native and 2024 Olympian Lauren O'Connor also raced on Sunday in the B final of the women's single sculls. Her time of 7:30.84 showed good for fifth in the race and 10th overall.
In earlier racing during the event, Claire Friedlander placed fifth in the women's lightweight single sculls, while 2024 Olympian Grace Joyce joined Madison native Isa Darvin in the double sculls, placing 16th. Former Badger Taylor Caudle represented Australia at the event as a spare.Â
Athletes from the U.S. will compete next at Shanghai Sprints from September 26-27.
The event debuts a new chapter in international rowing, bringing together eight of the world's top rowing nations for head-to-head, 500-meter knockout races on Shanghai's Suzhou Creek.
Darvin, Joyce and Vitas will each compete at that event for Team USA.
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Vitas finished in third to earn bronze on Saturday in the women's quadruple sculls. Her crew began in fifth, then moved into third by the midpoint and held there to the finish line, crossing in 6:10.33, just 0.55 seconds out of the silver medal. Netherlands won the event in 6:08.18.
On Sunday, Vitas and her mixed double sculls crew set a world's fastest time in the morning semifinals with a time of 6:22.42 over 2000 meters. Then in the A final later in the day, Vitas' crew charged late, but fell 0.41 seconds shy of second-place Ireland. The Americans won bronze in 6:22.75, with Netherlands setting a new world's fastest time for gold in 6.15.80.
Belleville, Wisconsin, native and 2024 Olympian Lauren O'Connor also raced on Sunday in the B final of the women's single sculls. Her time of 7:30.84 showed good for fifth in the race and 10th overall.
In earlier racing during the event, Claire Friedlander placed fifth in the women's lightweight single sculls, while 2024 Olympian Grace Joyce joined Madison native Isa Darvin in the double sculls, placing 16th. Former Badger Taylor Caudle represented Australia at the event as a spare.Â
Athletes from the U.S. will compete next at Shanghai Sprints from September 26-27.
The event debuts a new chapter in international rowing, bringing together eight of the world's top rowing nations for head-to-head, 500-meter knockout races on Shanghai's Suzhou Creek.
Darvin, Joyce and Vitas will each compete at that event for Team USA.
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Saturday, October 25
Tuesday, May 14
Monday, May 06
Thursday, March 14
