South Africa Takes on the World - RMB National Squad Ready for Shanghai Showdown

From 21–28 September 2025, the world’s best rowers will gather in Shanghai, China, for the World Rowing Championships — and South Africa’s RMB National Squad is set to compete in two of the toughest events on the programme.

Nearly 900 athletes from 56 countries will contest 23 boat classes, making this the strongest field since the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games. South Africa, the continent’s only consistent presence at this level, will line up in the women’s single sculls and the men’s pair — both among the largest entries at the regatta.

Facing the Deepest Fields

• Women’s Single Sculls (20 entries): Paige Badenhorst, 8th at World Cup II in Lucerne and a finalist at Henley Royal Regatta, races in a packed field of 20 nations. “We’ve settled in nicely over the last few days and I’m super excited to test my speed against the best in the world,” Badenhorst said ahead of her campaign.
• Men’s Pair (23 entries): Damien Bonhage-Koen and Christopher Baxter have already shown their speed with a 4th-place A Final finish in Lucerne and a strong Henley campaign. “I am excited to fly my country’s flag on the international stage,” said Bonhage-Koen. Baxter added: “I’m feeling confident in the training that we’ve done this season and I’m extremely excited to get the opportunity to race again.”

Momentum from Europe

The squad’s European tour sharpened combinations and confidence. Badenhorst and the men’s pair pushed world-leading crews in Lucerne and gained invaluable experience at Henley, proving they belong in the mix on rowing’s biggest stage.

Powered by Partnership

“A huge contributor to the success and popularity of rowing in South Africa is attributable to the performance of our RMB National Squad, who for so long have punched above their weight, winning multiple medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships. At all levels of the sport – schools to universities to juniors – this inspires and motivates the next generation of talent which, in turn, puts a spotlight on the sport in this country, piques interest, and growth in participation. It’s a sport defined by grit, resilience, commitment, and excellence; and I think fans of the sport and the general public resonate deeply with that once they immerse themselves in it. Long partnerships are strong partnerships, and RMB is proud to continue backing South African rowing on the global stage,” says Michael Edwards, Sponsorship Marketing Lead at RMB.

Conditions in Shanghai

After weeks of intense heat, conditions at Dianshan Lake have now stabilised, giving crews fairer water and consistent opportunities to maximise boat speed. Adaptability will be key as athletes adjust to these different conditions.

Eyes on Shanghai

For South Africa, competing in Shanghai is about more than results — it’s about gaining experience, carrying forward the nation’s proud rowing tradition, and continuing to represent Africa on the world stage.

With RMB’s support and a nation behind them, the RMB National Squad is ready to race.

📺 Watch live racing at worldrowing.com (local restrictions apply). 🔗 For updates, follow @rowingrsa on social media.