Athletes to watch in rowing coastal beach sprints at Dakar 2026

Dakar 2026 will crown the first-ever Youth Olympic champions in the discipline in Senegal, with rowers from around the world battling to reach the podium.

For France, watch out for 17-year-old Elisa Guilloton, who won bronze in the U19 mixed double at the 2025 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. She is scheduled to compete in the women’s solo as well as the mixed double sculls, where she will line up with Raphaël de Boussac.

Peru’s Teo Rubio Bernuy is another athlete used to being on the podium, having won gold in the men’s coastal rowing event at the 2024 South American Youth Rowing Championships in Asunción, Paraguay.

People’s Republic of China’s Juntao Su and Lili Liu should be strong contenders in Dakar, having won gold in the coastal under 19 mixed double sculls at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao.

Australia’s team includes Camilla Griffin, who won the U17 solo title at the 2026 Australian and Oceania Beach Sprints Championships, before earning selection for Dakar 2026.

From Great Britain, watch out for Lexi Gill, who recently won gold at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in the U19 women’s double.

Other up-and-coming stars to watch include Czechia’s Marie Zavadilová, winner of the U19 women’s solo at the 2026 Coupe de la Jeunesse beach sprint.

Host nation Senegal will be represented by El Hadji Malick Lo in the men’s solo and mixed double sculls, and Diadou Cissé in the women’s solo and mixed double sculls.