Jacqueline Swick has claimed World Championship silver to headline a strong showing from four members of the UNSW community representing Australia at the 2026 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.
Jacqueline Swick has added a World Championship silver medal to her international resume after a brilliant performance with the Australian Women’s Four at the 2026 World Rowing Championships in Amsterdam.
Swick was one of four members of the UNSW community representing Australia as part of the Rowsellas squad on the Bosbaan, alongside Lily Alton-Triggs, Nikolas Pender and UNSW alumnus Marcus Della Marta. The quartet produced a series of impressive performances across the seven day Championships, highlighted by Swick reaching the podium in the Women’s Four.
Coming into Amsterdam off the back of silver at World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, Swick and the Australian Women’s Four carried that form straight into the World Championships. The Australians won their opening heat in 7:09.67 before producing another impressive performance to win their semifinal in 6:35.52 and book their place in the medal race.
In Saturday’s A Final, Australia produced its fastest performance of the Championships, crossing the line in 6:12.40 to claim the silver medal behind the United States. The result secured Swick a place on the World Championships podium and continued an impressive period for the Paris Olympian, who has become a regular member of Australia’s senior rowing program.
Swick has also continued to balance her international rowing career with study at UNSW and was among the UNSW Elite Athlete Program students awarded an Australian Institute of Sport Athlete Education Scholarship in 2025.
For Marcus Della Marta, Amsterdam represented a significant new milestone as the UNSW alumnus made his Senior World Championships debut in the Australian Men’s Quad.
Della Marta and the Australian crew opened their campaign by finishing second in their heat in 6:19.14 to progress to the semifinals. After missing a place in the A Final, the Quad responded strongly in the B Final, finishing second behind Croatia in 5:42.66 to secure eighth place overall.
His debut also saw Della Marta join the ranks of Australia’s senior internationals to receive a numbered McVilly Pearce Pin, awarded when an athlete first represents Australia at senior elite level at a World Championships or Olympic, Paralympic or Commonwealth Games. The achievement represents another step in Della Marta’s international progression after coming agonisingly close to qualifying for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games in the Men’s Double Scull. His achievements in rowing alongside his studies were recognised by UNSW when he received a prestigious Vice Chancellor’s Blue, the University’s highest sporting honour.
Nikolas Pender also represented the Rowsellas in Amsterdam, racing in the Australian Men’s Four. The Australian crew began strongly, placing second in its opening heat in 6:28.45 to advance to the semifinals. A fifth place finish in the semifinal sent Australia to the B Final, where the crew produced its fastest performance of the regatta. Australia crossed the line fourth in 5:54.87, narrowly missing third place in the classification race to finish the Championships 10th overall.
The result adds another Senior World Championships appearance to Pender’s growing international resume. The UNSW Elite Athlete Program member has progressed from success at Under 23 level into an established member of Australia’s senior program, with his recent achievements including back to back World Rowing Cup victories in the Men’s Four during the 2025 season.
Pender was also part of the Australian Men’s Eight that won the prestigious Grand Challenge Cup at the 2025 Henley Royal Regatta, matching the course record in the final and securing Australia’s first victory in the event since 2018. Like Della Marta, Pender’s achievements on the water and while studying at UNSW have previously been recognised with a Vice Chancellor’s Blue.
Lily Alton-Triggs completed the UNSW contingent in Amsterdam as part of the Australian Women’s Eight. The Paris Olympian entered the World Championships following a strong international season for the Eight, including a silver medal at World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne.
Australia finished third in its opening race in 6:12.99, narrowly missing qualification for the A Final and moving into Sunday’s B Final. The crew responded emphatically in its final race of the Championships, with Alton Triggs and the Australian Eight crossing the line first in 5:58.00 to finish their campaign with a victory and secure seventh place overall. It capped another appearance on the international stage for Alton-Triggs, who represented Australia in the Women’s Eight at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The four UNSW representatives formed part of a 61 athlete Australian Rowsellas squad contesting 13 boat classes across the Men’s, Women’s and Para programs in Amsterdam. Their campaigns concluded with a World Championship silver medal and four top 10 finishes, continuing a strong period of international representation for UNSW rowing.
Swick leaves Amsterdam with a World Championship medal, Della Marta with an eighth place finish on senior debut, Alton Triggs with a B Final victory and Pender with another top 10 result at Senior Worlds, a strong return from UNSW’s four representatives across four different Australian crews.