Samoa's first international rowing medal.
Alia Marquardt won bronze for Samoa in the Women's U19 Double at the 2026 Oceania and Australian Beach Sprint Championships on the Gold Coast, in a composite crew with Lily Canfield of Gippsland Grammar, Australia. No athlete representing Samoa had won a medal at an international regatta before.
Beach Sprint rowing joins the Olympic programme at Los Angeles 2028.
Bronze — Women's U19 Double, with Lily Canfield of Gippsland Grammar (Australia) · Currumbin Creek, Gold Coast, September 2026
The call
“Coming around the turning flag, Alia Marquardt will take out Team Samoa's first medal here — a bronze in the women's under-19.” Race commentary, Currumbin Creek. Video: Kevin Scott.
On screen
PacificAus Sports has published a film about rowing in Samoa, made at the Oceania Beach Sprint Championships on the Gold Coast for That Pacific Sports Show. It is a few minutes long.
Produced for That Pacific Sports Show · published by PacificAus Sports · opens on Facebook
What's happening now
- September 2026 — Samoa back on the water. After World Rowing's Oceania development camp (31 August – 2 September), Alia raced four events in three days at the Oceania and Australian Beach Sprint Championships: the Women's U23 Solo, the Women's U19 Solo, the U19 Mixed Double with William Bowmar of Hamilton Rowing Club, New Zealand, and the Women's U19 Double with Lily Canfield, which brought the bronze. She was the only athlete from the camp to win a medal. Results and photos → · The camp →
- 16 September 2026 — The Association is registered. Fifteen founding members signed in Apia, and the Registrar of Incorporated Societies issued the Samoa Rowing Association's certificate of incorporation under the Incorporated Societies Ordinance 1952. The Association's first General Assembly follows, to adopt the constitution and elect its officers.
- Toward LA 2028 and Brisbane 2032. Samoa Rowing is starting indoors, with rowing machines in schools, and building toward the water from there. How and why →
Be part of it
Rowers, volunteers, coaches and partners, in Samoa and overseas. The Association files in Apia this September and would like to meet you.
Register your interest →A short form — or write to us.