Budgett, Edwards Compete in World Rowing Championships
Former UCLA rowers Saskia Budgett and Kyra Edwards finished competing for Great Britain over the weekend at the 2022 World Rowing Championships in Racice, Czech Republic.
The pair of former UCLA rowers finished in second place in the B final race on Sunday, Sept. 25, recording a final time of 6:59.66. Ukraine (6:57.46) finished in first place. Budgett and Edwards crossed the finish line ahead of China (third place, 7:01.03), Norway (fourth place, 7:02.68), Canada (fifth place, 7:06.00) and Switzerland (sixth place, 7:08.85).
Budgett and Edwards had moved into the B final race after a fifth-place finish in their semifinal contest (A/B 1). Representing Great Britain, the duo posted a final time of 7:02.33, finishing behind the Netherlands (6:52.40), Ireland (6:53.82), Germany (6:56.21) and Norway (6:59.97). Great Britain finished ahead of sixth-place Canada (7:04.85).
Budgett and Edwards advanced to the semifinal race (A/B 1) in the women's double sculls (W2X) with a second-place finish in their preliminary heat. Great Britain posted a final time of 7:00.62, trailing first-place competitor Norway. Budgett and Edwards crossed the finish line ahead of crews from the Netherlands, Ireland, Germany and Canada.
Budgett and Edwards each spent four seasons in UCLA's program (2016-19). Both student-athletes secured second-team CRCA All-America acclaim as seniors during the 2018-19 school year. Budgett was selected as an alternate with Great Britain's national team at the 2020 Olympics (which took place in 2021 in Tokyo, Japan).
Edwards competed for Great Britain at the U-23 World Championships in 2016, 2017 and 2018. Budgett rowed for Great Britain at the U-23 World Championships in 2017 and 2018.
The senior World Rowing Championships take place every year at the conclusion of the international rowing season. World Champions are crowned in 14 Olympic boat classes – seven for men and seven for women, in addition to six international boat classes for lightweight rowers.