The Western Mustangs rowing teams shared their training ground at Fanshawe Lake from Aug. 13 to 15 as London, Ont. played host to the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships. It marked the first time the international competition for university-level rowing was hosted in North America.
“It was just unbelievable to see everyone work together to make this a true international event,” said Mustangs men’s rowing team head coach Dan Bechard.
More than 300 student-athletes from over 20 countries took part, including six current or former Mustangs. Italy finished atop the leader board with four gold medals, two silver and five bronze. Aidan Hembruff, BSc’26, and Oliver Baker, an environmental science student, were part of the bronze medal-winning Canadian men’s four crew.
“Bringing home the bronze makes me feel so proud to have represented Canada, as well as Western, on the international stage. This is my first international medal and to achieve that on a home course is incredible meaningful,” said Hembruff.
Baker and Hembruff have rowed together the last three years as Mustangs.
“It was one of the hardest and most exciting races of my career. We executed a lot of the fundamentals that we learned this summer and went out as fast as we could. At the starting gate, I smiled a bit knowing that this was my home course and a bit of familiarity that settled the nerves,” Baker told Rowing Canada.
Western News shares highlights from the competition:
A rower from Lithuania celebrates after a race on Fanshawe Lake during the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships. (Brandon VandeCaveye)
Canadian student-athletes enter the opening ceremonies on Aug. 13 in Western University’s Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation. (Western Mustangs)
The 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships began with a traditional Indigenous dance during the opening ceremonies. (Western Mustangs)
Student-athletes from Great Britain celebrate the opening of the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships on Aug. 13 at Western University. (Western Mustangs)
Norwegian rowers enter the opening ceremonies of the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships on Aug. 13. (Western Mustangs)
Thirty-four Canadian rowers competed in the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships Aug. 13 to 15 at Fanshawe Lake. (Brandon VandeCaveye)
Teammates connect during the three-day rowing competition on Fanshawe Lake. (Western Mustangs)
A look of concentration ahead of a race on Fanshawe Lake during the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships. (Brandon VandeCaveye)
A spectator watches intently during the third and final day of the competition on Aug. 15. (Brandon VandeCaveye)
Student-athletes practice ahead of the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships. (Western Mustangs)
A rower from Portugal moves across Fanshawe Lake on the first day of the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships. (Brandon VandeCaveye)
Top women finishers from Italy, Great Britain and Germany on the podium at the closing ceremonies of the 2026 FISU World University Rowing Championships. (Brandon VandeCaveye)
