Laura Meriano and Alice Codato Win at Henley Royal Regatta, Set Course Record and Claim Italy’s First Women’s Gold

Laura Meriano, of C.S. Carabinieri and Società Canottieri Garda Salò, and Alice Codato of Fiamme Oro–Gavirate won the Hambleden Pairs Challenge Cup at the Henley Royal Regatta on Sunday, July 5, 2026, beating South Africa’s Westley-Williams in the quarterfinals and setting a new course record of 7:46” for the event. The Italian pair were the first women’s Italian crew to return home with the trophy.

The Hambleden Pairs Challenge Cup is named after Viscount Hambleden, who in 1919 established the first prize for the men’s coxless pair. After heats and a final on the River Thames, the cup was awarded to Meriano and Codato, who said they built their win step by step through successive races.
Italian Version