The U.S. women’s four with coxswain repeated as world champions, giving the U.S. its only medal at the 2023 World Rowing Under 19 Championships at the Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, site of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic rowing events.
Racing in the first final of the day, the women’s four with coxswain of Lucy Herrick (Chicago, Ill./Chicago Rowing Foundation), Carly Brown (Grosse Pointe, Mich./Detroit Boat Club), Rosie Lundberg (Westport, Conn./Saugatuck Rowing Club), Rebecca Stelmach (Alameda, Calif./Oakland Strokes), and Ella Wheeler (South Orange, N.J./Northfield-Mount Hermon) gave the U.S. back-to-back gold medals in the event, defeating Italy by just over two seconds. The U.S. boat had taken the lead over Australia by the 500-meter mark and continued to extend its advantage over the field during the middle 1,000 meters. Italy passed Australia in the second 500 but was never able to make a real push on the American crew. The U.S. won the race in a 7:07.97, with Italy finishing in a 7:10.00 to take the silver medal. Australia finished third in a 7:17.53.