World Championships:
The 2025 World Rowing Championships held in Shanghai China was likely perceived as a tough start to the Los Angeles Olympic quadrennial with only one crew qualifying for an “A” final. However, some glimmer of hope for the next three years was provided by the five ARA representatives in attendance. An overview of the performances from our ARA athletes/coaches is as follows.
Caroline (Shaye) de Paiva from Calgary and her crew of Alizee Brien, Kristen Siermachesky, Cassidy Deane, finished in sixth place for the A-final – making them the first Canadian women’s quad to reach the A-final at any World Rowing Event since 2014. In fact, this was only the fourth A-final appearance at the World Rowing Championships in this boat class in the past 28 years.
Karissa Riley from Calgary finished in seventh place in the Lightweight Women single a significant improvement from her 13th place finish at the 2024 World Championships. Karissa’s performance is even more impressive when you consider the fact she trained in Calgary throughout the year alongside her coach Alex Marchuk.
Jay Berner from Calgary and his crew of Abbygayle Durliat, Stuart Chase, Marie Danielle Main, and Teija Patry represented the the first PR3 mixed quad from Canada to compete on the world stage since the Tokyo Olympics in 2022. The Canadian Team finished in 8th place in Shanghai.
Axel Ewashko from Fort McMurray Alberta competed in both the men’s 8+’s and 4- events in Shanghai China. Axel and his crew finished in 9th and 17th place respectively in the Men’s 8+ and 4-.
September Recap:
· Congratulations to the University of Calgary, Leduc and ERC for hosting three separate regattas on consecutive weekend dates in late September and early October. All three regattas were an unqualified success with clubs from across Alberta and Saskatchewan in attendance.
· In September of 2025 a group of Master athletes from the Calgary Rowing Club travelled to to compete at the World Masters Rowing Regatta on Lake Baynoles Spain. Congratulations to all.
· Great to see a number of athletes who are new to the sport of rowing, participating within one of Alberta’s three university programs – University of Calgary, University of Alberta and Lakeland College.
The end of one Journey sparks Another
In September of 2025 Kasia Gruchalla Wesierski announced her retirement from rowing. Kasia leaves the sport amongst the most decorated Canadian Olympians in the sport of rowing, and Alberta’s most decorated rower of all time having won Olympic Gold in 2021 (Tokyo) and Silver in 2024 (Paris). While Kasia has retired as an athlete, we are happy to see her transition to the coach-boat helping manage affairs with the CRC and as well with the ARA’s Next Gen program. Congratulations Kasia.
To acknowledge Kasia’s retirement we have shared an article we wrote on Kasia just prior to the Paris Olympics.
Kasia Gruchella Wesierski – Women’s 8+ –
Kasia Gruchalla-Wesierski grew up as a competitive alpine skier but a broken leg ended her career and she thought she lost her chance at becoming a high-performance athlete. But a second chance came when she found rowing. Friends with a fellow rower, Kasia showed up the club for the first time in March of 2014 and picked the sport up quickly. By June of that year, Kasia was amongst the fastest sweep athletes in the club and represented Calgary in a women’s 8+ with eventual national team athletes Karen Lefsrud, Mckenzie Lukacs, Jessie Loutit and Helena Hlas. The eight lost to a Craftsbury crew that year which was loaded with a number of international athletes but Kasia’s future was indeed bright.
Kasia returned the next year and was a part of a Calgary Women’s 8+ and 4- that won Henley gold in 2015 and 2016 and would go on to compete at the Henley Royal regatta in Henley England in 2017. Following that 2017 year Kasia left Calgary to join the National Rowing Centre in Victoria and in 2018 joined up with
Calgary athletes Colleen Nesbitt and Jessie Loutit for a World Cup in Lucerne Switzerland marking her first international regatta. Kasia however was not selected to the 2018 World Championship team a few weeks later and returned back to Calgary to ponder her next steps. By 2019, no one was holding Kasia back and she was named to represent Canada at the 2021 Olympics in the Women’s 8+
Six weeks away from the start of the 2021 Olympic Games Kasia was involved in a bicycle accident that required 50+ stiches and surgery to repair a broken collarbone. Despite the setback and two surgeries later Kasia remained confident that she would at the start line in Tokyo. The crew started the Olympics off slowly finishing in second place in both its heat and repechage but the Olympic final was one in which Canadian rowing fans will never forget. The crew lead from start to finish winning Canada’s first gold medal in the sport of rowing since Canada Men’s 8+’s in 2008.
Following the 2021 Olympics Kasia took some time away from the sport before returning in 2022. Kasia’s presence was immediate helping the team qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games in the Women’s 8+.
Upcoming Events
Head of the Gorge / Tail of the Gorge – Victoria B.C – October 18-19, 2025