China Wins Big at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals in Qingdao

China topped the medal standings by winning four golds and a total of eight medals at the 2026 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals held in Qingdao. With Wednesday's races moved to Tuesday due to a forecast of adverse weather conditions, all medal races were held on Tuesday.

According to World Rowing data, a total of 108 races were packed into over 10 hours of non-stop action. In the early stages of the regatta, which was scheduled for October 18-21, multiple boats capsized due to challenging surf conditions. China won gold medals in the coastal junior men's and mixed double sculls, coastal men's solo, and coastal junior women's solo categories. It also secured three silver and one bronze medal to claim the top spot on the medal table.

American Chris Bak, the most decorated athlete in the brief history of Beach Sprints, lost in the men's solo quarterfinal to Australian Samuel Forbes in one of the three Beach Sprint rowing events that will make their Olympic debut at the LA2028 Games. Meanwhile, China's Jiayu Liu defeated Forbes in the final. The U.S. mixed coxed quadruple scull, consisting of Malachi Anderson in the bow position, Charlotte Wiley, Audrianna Boersen, Chris Bak, and coxswain Coral Marie Kasden, finished the gold medal race ahead of China.