Beach Sprints is rowing’s newest and most dynamic discipline, set to make its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles Games in 2028. With its 500m head-to-head format, dramatic beach starts, and sprint finishes through the surf, it has already captured global attention as a fast, exciting, and highly accessible form of rowing.

I was recently invited to join the South African National Coaching Team to help chart our course towards LA 2028. Over the past three years, South Africa has steadily increased its presence on the world stage — competing at the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals and at the FISU World University Championships, where athletes and coaches alike gained invaluable international experience. Now, we are building on that foundation to create a high-performance pathway that will take South African Beach Sprint rowing to Olympic level.

It’s not just about qualifying; it’s about becoming competitive on the highest stage. That means developing athletes, yes — but also shaping the culture, resilience, and performance systems that will allow them to thrive under pressure. Together, we are working to turn South Africa’s Olympic Beach Sprint dream into a reality.