Australia's rowing campaign at the upcoming Youth Olympic Games looks strong with the athletes taking home bronze medals over the weekend at the 2010 World Junior Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.

Emma Basher (SA), Olympia Aldersey (SA) joined with annah Vermeersch (WA) and Natasha Gay (WA) to win bronze in the the Australian junior women’s four.

They came hom ein what was one of the closest finishes of the regatta, with the top four crews all finishing within two seconds of each other.

The Australian crew held second position for the middle section of the race, but was overhauled by the USA in the closing stages. New Zealand won the gold medal, USA won silver, while Australia settled for bronze in a time of 6:51.03.

The Australian junior men’s coxed four also won a bronze medal on the final day of action.

Coxed by Jack Alpe (NSW), the crew of Thomas Amies (QLD), David Watts (WA), Matt Cochran (WA) and Angus Moore (ACT) finished third behind Switzerland and Italy in a time of 6:21.85.

Switzerland controlled the race from the start, while Australia produced a strong second 1000m to catch Italy, before being edged out by 0.34 seconds.

Watts and Cochran will now fly to Singapore to start their Youth Olympics campaign along with Basher and Aldersey.

Rowing Australia