Canada wins Junior men’s pair bronze

Canada’s men’s pair won bronze in Plovdiv, Bulgaria on the final day of racing at the 2021 World Rowing Junior Championships.

Matteo Banducci (Vancouver College) and Alexander Gonin (Victoria City Rowing Club) crossed the line behind Romania and Germany in the A final with a time of 6:45.22. After opening the regatta with a fourth place finish in the heats, Banducci and Gonin continued to improve upon their results, finishing third in their repechage and second in their A/B semifinal.

This is Canada’s first medal at the World Rowing Junior Championships since 2017, when Grace Vandenbroek and Kieanna Stephens won bronze in the women’s double.

“We are incredibly proud of this entire Canadian team here in Bulgaria,” said Chuck McDiarmid, RCA NextGen Program Lead. “These up and coming athletes have navigated many challenges to get here and represent Canada on the world stage. We look forward to seeing more from these talented NextGen rowers. The future looks bright!”

Three Canadian crews raced in B finals on Sunday, with the women’s four of Ellie Sousa (Victoria City Rowing Club), Firinne Rolfe (St. Michaels University School), Sophie Gower (Thunder Rowing Club) and Ellexi Fulton (Shawnigan Lake School) winning their race ahead of Belarus and Poland to claim seventh overall.

The women’s quad and women’s double both had fourth place finishes in the B finals (tenth overall), while the men’s quad came in third in the D final (twenty first overall).

Team Canada Results and Progressions

Men’s Pair – Matteo Banducci & Alexander Gonin
4^th in Heat > 3^rd in Rep > 2^nd in A/B Semi > 3^rd in A Final > BRONZE

Men’s Quad – Adrian Breen, Giancarlo DiPompeo, Payton Gauthier & Shane Keagan
4^th in Heat > 5^th in Rep > 5^th in C/D Semi > 3^rd D Final > 21^st Place

Women’s Four – Ellie Sousa, Firinne Rolfe, Sophie Gower & Ellexi Fulton
3^rd in Heat > 3^rd in Rep > 1^st in B Final > 7^th Place

Women’s Quad – Fiona Elliott, Hannah Elliott, Teagan Orth & Anna Pamenter
2^nd in Heat > 3^rd in Rep > 4^th in B Final > 10^th Place

Women’s Double – Jana Peachey & Madeleine Lauriault
3^rd in Heat > 2^nd in Rep > 5^th in A/B Semi > 4^th in B Final > 10^th Place

Click here for more information on the 2021 World Rowing Junior Championships.

In support of the Junior athletes, RCA launched a fundraising campaign to reduce fees associated with international competition and ensure that athletes do not face financial barriers to representing Canada on the world stage. To make a contribution and help Canada’s rowers focus on giving their all on the water, please visit fundrazr.com/2021RCAJUNIOR.

For more information: 
Colleen Coderre
RCA Communications Lead
comm@rowingcanada.org

Liz Montroy
RCA Communications and Events Coordinator
lmontroy@rowingcanada.org