The Australian Women’s Eight.  Photo credit: Benedict Tufnell/Row360

THE Australian Rowing Team has opened its 2026 campaign in sensational fashion, with the Women’s Eight (Georgie Gleeson, Eliza Gaffney, Lily Triggs OLY, Ella Bramwell, Samantha Morton, Paige Barr OLY, Jaime Ford, Laura Gourley OLY and Hayley Verbunt OLY coxswain) winning the Gold Medal at World Cup I in Seville, Spain.

In a commanding performance in Sunday’s A-Final, the crew led for much of the race to claim Australia’s first women’s international A-Final victory of the new Olympic cycle.

“We were just thinking, ‘hit the start hard, try get into a rhythm, emulate or win …’ I’d say we executed pretty well,” Samantha Morton told worldrowing.com.

“This is a new crew, some fresh faces. We’re working at the chemistry, but it’s clicking well, and this is massive confidence in the bank for what’s to come.”

Australia (Georgia Patten OLY, Bronwyn Cox OLY, Jacqueline Swick OLY and Georgie Rowe OLY) also won the Silver medal in the Women’s Four A-Final, whilst the Women’s Pair of Katherine Easton and Emmie Frederico placed fifth in their A-Final.

It was an impressive display by the Australian Women’s team, in its first regatta since leaving left the cool climes of Australia for the heat of Europe on May 21.

“The women’s team have shown both their class and potential here in Seville,” RA Performance Director Paul Thompson said.

“The Eight and Four are fighting at the front of the field, the Pair is in the A Final, Tara Rigney has improved with each race as she comes back from a break and the youngsters in the quad were competitive.

“The racing always gets tighter as the season progresses and the women can prepare for that with confidence from what they achieved in Seville.”