Drapp, Thoennes Earn Bronze At 2025 World Rowing Championships
September 25, 2025 | Men's Rowing
Washington alumnae Jess Thoennes '18 and Holly Drapp '21 teamed up to earn a bronze medal for the United States in the women's pairs at the 2025 World Rowing Championships late last night in Shanghai, China.
Thoennes and Drapp, who both rowed in NCAA Champion crews while at Washington, earned the bronze in dramatic fashion, having sat in the fifth positon at 500 meters and fourth at 1,000. Their final time of 7:13.93 was just 0.62 seconds behind second-place France.
The medal was the second of Thoennes' U.S. National Team career, as she won silver in the eight in 2023. She also rowed in both the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games. The medal was the first for Drapp, who was making her senior debut for the U.S.
"We didn't even have to say anything," Drapp told USRowing.org, referring to their come-from-behind effort. "We just both knew that that's where we had to trust each other, trust our fitness, and just never be afraid to give it a little more."
"We were there," Thoennes told USRowing. "We were there, and the opportunity presented itself, and we created it, so just take it. You've got to be ready for anything on race day."
In other day-five action involving UW athletes, rising senior Povilas Juskevicius and his boatmate finished fifth in the men's pairs final. It was Juskevicius' best finish in three appearances at a World Championship regatta.
In the women's quadruple sculls final, former UW rower Ella Cossill was the bow seat in the New Zealand quad that finished fifth in the world. In the men's quad finals, UW alum and 2024 Olympian Chris Carlson (pictured, in stroke seat) was in the United States crew that finished in fourth place.
Earlier on day five, a host of Husky alumni raced in the men's and women's eight heats, with the top three finishers in each heat earning a spot in the A finals.
In the first women's heat, Sophie Houston and her Australian eight finished third, booking a spot in the medal final, while Canadian Sally Jones and her crew finished fourth, moving them on to the B final.
In the second women's heat, two Huskies earned a place in the A final as Tabea Schendekehl's German eight finished second and the American women, coxed by Nina Castagna, were third. Aisha Rocek and her Italian eight finished the heat in fourth place.
In the men's eight, Husky Archie Drummond help his British eight, the reigning Olympic champions, to a first-place finish, while former UW teammate Nick Dunlop coxed the Australians to a third-place finish and a trip to the A final.
In the second heat, two Huskies – Madison Molitor and Pieter Quinton – were in the U.S. eight that took second.
Thursday night (Pacific Time; Friday morning in China), several more Huskies will be in action in Shanghai.
In men's single sculls competition, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Simon van Dorp of the Netherland and 2024 Olympic silver medalist (in the four) Logan Ullrich of New Zealand will compete in each of the two semifinals, at 9:49 and 9:57 p.m. PT, respectively.
Later in the evening, Sally Jones and her Canadian four will race in the B final, at 10:45 p.m., and Quinton (competing in two categories) will row in the U.S. four in its B final, at 10:53 p.m.
Just after midnight, two more UW alums will compete for medals. In the women's four, Teal Cohen will race in the U.S. crew, while in the men's four final, Gert-Jan van Doorn will compete for the Netherlands.
(U.S. Men's four photo by Benedict Tufnell)
Thoennes and Drapp, who both rowed in NCAA Champion crews while at Washington, earned the bronze in dramatic fashion, having sat in the fifth positon at 500 meters and fourth at 1,000. Their final time of 7:13.93 was just 0.62 seconds behind second-place France.
The medal was the second of Thoennes' U.S. National Team career, as she won silver in the eight in 2023. She also rowed in both the 2020 and 2024 Olympic Games. The medal was the first for Drapp, who was making her senior debut for the U.S.
"We didn't even have to say anything," Drapp told USRowing.org, referring to their come-from-behind effort. "We just both knew that that's where we had to trust each other, trust our fitness, and just never be afraid to give it a little more."
"We were there," Thoennes told USRowing. "We were there, and the opportunity presented itself, and we created it, so just take it. You've got to be ready for anything on race day."
In other day-five action involving UW athletes, rising senior Povilas Juskevicius and his boatmate finished fifth in the men's pairs final. It was Juskevicius' best finish in three appearances at a World Championship regatta.
In the women's quadruple sculls final, former UW rower Ella Cossill was the bow seat in the New Zealand quad that finished fifth in the world. In the men's quad finals, UW alum and 2024 Olympian Chris Carlson (pictured, in stroke seat) was in the United States crew that finished in fourth place.
Earlier on day five, a host of Husky alumni raced in the men's and women's eight heats, with the top three finishers in each heat earning a spot in the A finals.
In the first women's heat, Sophie Houston and her Australian eight finished third, booking a spot in the medal final, while Canadian Sally Jones and her crew finished fourth, moving them on to the B final.
In the second women's heat, two Huskies earned a place in the A final as Tabea Schendekehl's German eight finished second and the American women, coxed by Nina Castagna, were third. Aisha Rocek and her Italian eight finished the heat in fourth place.
In the men's eight, Husky Archie Drummond help his British eight, the reigning Olympic champions, to a first-place finish, while former UW teammate Nick Dunlop coxed the Australians to a third-place finish and a trip to the A final.
In the second heat, two Huskies – Madison Molitor and Pieter Quinton – were in the U.S. eight that took second.
Thursday night (Pacific Time; Friday morning in China), several more Huskies will be in action in Shanghai.
In men's single sculls competition, 2024 Olympic bronze medalist Simon van Dorp of the Netherland and 2024 Olympic silver medalist (in the four) Logan Ullrich of New Zealand will compete in each of the two semifinals, at 9:49 and 9:57 p.m. PT, respectively.
Later in the evening, Sally Jones and her Canadian four will race in the B final, at 10:45 p.m., and Quinton (competing in two categories) will row in the U.S. four in its B final, at 10:53 p.m.
Just after midnight, two more UW alums will compete for medals. In the women's four, Teal Cohen will race in the U.S. crew, while in the men's four final, Gert-Jan van Doorn will compete for the Netherlands.
(U.S. Men's four photo by Benedict Tufnell)
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