Qualified Teams Unveiled for Inaugural 2027 World Rowing Beach Sprint Series

World Rowing has confirmed the 16 teams for the inaugural 2027 World Rowing Beach Sprint Series, with additional qualification places still available for the opening stage in Antalya.

LAUSANNE – The 16-team field for the 2027 World Rowing Beach Sprint Series has been confirmed, with additional teams still able to qualify for the opening stage in Antalya through a Last-Chance Regatta.

The same 16 teams will compete at both stages of the 2027 Series, which opens in Antalya, Türkiye, on 27–28 March before moving to Yangjiang, China, on 14–15 April. Additional teams qualifying through the Last-Chance Regatta will be eligible for the Antalya stage only and will not affect the confirmed 16-team field for Yangjiang.

The inaugural Series marks an important step in Beach Sprint Rowing’s development as the discipline builds toward its Olympic debut at LA28.

International Qualifiers

Seven teams automatically qualified for the 2027 Series through their performances at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. Results across the Women’s Solo, Men’s Solo and Mixed Double were combined to determine the seven highest-ranked federations: China, Australia, Germany, Lithuania, Portugal, Spain and the United States of America.

Continental Qualifiers

Each continent was allocated one place in the 2027 Series, based on performances at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao, China. The continental places went to Poland (Europe), Brazil (Americas), Thailand (Asia) and New Zealand (Oceania). A combined Tunisia/South Africa team will fill Africa’s place after a tie between the two countries for the continental spot.

Host Nations

China and Türkiye will host the 2027 Series, with each guaranteed a team place. China also secured automatic qualification through its performance in Qingdao, fulfilling its host-nation allocation.

Wildcards

Two Wildcards went to the highest-placed federations in Qingdao that had not already qualified through the international or continental pathways. Great Britain and Austria secured these places based on their overall performances at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals.

The third Wildcard goes to a combined World Team, bringing together athletes from non-qualified development teams. The countries comprising the World Team will be announced later.

Antalya Last-Chance Regatta: Additional Qualification Places

Federations that missed out on the 16-team field will still have an opportunity to qualify for the Antalya stage. The local organisers will host a special qualification regatta ahead of the Series, open to teams that have not already qualified.

Further details, including the qualification criteria, will be announced in due course.

Teams and Format

Each team fields six members: four racing athletes (two women and two men) and two team support members (one man, one woman). Athletes compete in the Women’s and Men’s Solo events before pairing up for the Mixed Double. All four athletes then come together for the Mixed Relay, which makes its international debut in the Series as a showcase event and does not contribute to the overall competition standings.

World Rowing will confirm the final competing crews closer to the Series start.

Athletes Looking Ahead

Qingdao’s Solo champions, Australia’s Isabella Scammell and China’s Liu Jiayu, are among those looking ahead to the Series.

Scammell won the Women’s Solo, securing Australia’s first gold medal at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. Liu claimed the Men’s Solo title.

“Qingdao gave me a taste of racing the world’s best on the sand,” said Scammell. “A series means more of that before Olympic qualification, and I can’t wait.”

Added Liu: “A global series is exactly what Beach Sprints needs. More races against the world’s best, and a stage in China, is great motivation on the road to LA28.”