Willis Wins Gold at U23 World Rowing Championships
7/23/2023 7:39:00 AM | Men's Rowing
Joe Willis, a rising senior on the Syracuse men's rowing team, is a World champion.
"I just want to say thank you to everyone that has been around me the last few years," Willis said. "The fact that I can now say Joe Willis is a World champion, that's weird, it's really weird, but it is really good."
Willis earned a gold medal at the U23 World Rowing Championships as a member of Great Britain's men's eight early Sunday morning in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.Â
"Thank you Syracuse for everything," Willis added. "I've got one more year and I'm gonna enjoy the hell out of it and tackle every challenge that comes our way with a smile because that's what the people I've been around tell me."
The Workingham, England, native sat four seat in the M8+ that edged USA by 2.39 seconds. Germany placed third finishing in 5:28.99 while fellow Syracuse Oarsmen Lachlan Doust (five seat) and his Australian teammates were fourth in 5:31.49.Â
"I got a fortune cookie a couple of years ago, it's in the back of my phone, that says 'your road to glory will be rocky but fulfilling' and I couldn't disagree with that," Willis said after winning gold. "It just feels surreal and I know I couldn't have don't any of this without the support of my team over the past three years and all the people I've met. Coach Reischman, [former SU assistant] Coach Elefant, Coach Walters, my girlfriend, my housemates, my teammates. I couldn't have done this without any of them and my parents. I owe everyone so much, it's just nice I can give them this to say thank you. "Â
It marks the first international medal for Willis, who made his Great Britain debut this week in Plovdiv.Â
"I've been working for this for about two years and it kinda sucked, the whole process was tough," Willis added. "I just had to trust that what I was doing was good enough."
Sean McHugh also earned a fifth-place finish in A Final at U23s alongside his New Zealand teammates in the men's coxed four. McHugh sat two seat for the Kiwi squad.Â
For complete results of the U23 World Rowing Championships, click here.Â
"I just want to say thank you to everyone that has been around me the last few years," Willis said. "The fact that I can now say Joe Willis is a World champion, that's weird, it's really weird, but it is really good."
Willis earned a gold medal at the U23 World Rowing Championships as a member of Great Britain's men's eight early Sunday morning in Plovdiv, Bulgaria.Â
"Thank you Syracuse for everything," Willis added. "I've got one more year and I'm gonna enjoy the hell out of it and tackle every challenge that comes our way with a smile because that's what the people I've been around tell me."
The Workingham, England, native sat four seat in the M8+ that edged USA by 2.39 seconds. Germany placed third finishing in 5:28.99 while fellow Syracuse Oarsmen Lachlan Doust (five seat) and his Australian teammates were fourth in 5:31.49.Â
"I got a fortune cookie a couple of years ago, it's in the back of my phone, that says 'your road to glory will be rocky but fulfilling' and I couldn't disagree with that," Willis said after winning gold. "It just feels surreal and I know I couldn't have don't any of this without the support of my team over the past three years and all the people I've met. Coach Reischman, [former SU assistant] Coach Elefant, Coach Walters, my girlfriend, my housemates, my teammates. I couldn't have done this without any of them and my parents. I owe everyone so much, it's just nice I can give them this to say thank you. "Â
It marks the first international medal for Willis, who made his Great Britain debut this week in Plovdiv.Â
"I've been working for this for about two years and it kinda sucked, the whole process was tough," Willis added. "I just had to trust that what I was doing was good enough."
Sean McHugh also earned a fifth-place finish in A Final at U23s alongside his New Zealand teammates in the men's coxed four. McHugh sat two seat for the Kiwi squad.Â
For complete results of the U23 World Rowing Championships, click here.Â
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