CAMBRIDGE, Mass. -- Harvard-Radcliffe heavyweight's Kathryn Serra (Miami, Fla.) was announced as the 2026 USRowing U23 Female Athlete of the Year by the organization on Thursday morning. The Female Athlete of the Year, as well as the Male Athlete of the Year, were selected by the athletes and coaches of the team that competed at the 2026 World Rowing U23 Championships in Germany. Serra will be recognized at the 2026 Golden Oars Gala on Nov. 5.

Serra made history in 2026 as a member of the U..S. women's quadruple sculls that won gold at the World Rowing U23 Championships. Racing alongside Sumner Kerr, Madison Kieft and Lila Henn, Serra helped the crew to the first U.S. medal in the women's quadruple sculls at the U23 World Championships since 2007. The 2026 championship was Serra's third U23 World Championships.

"This award means everything to me, in part because of how unexpected this summer was," Serra said in a statement to USRowing. "I was a little hesitant to try sculling after so many years, and I definitely could not have imagined that stepping out of my comfort zone would lead to winning a gold medal at U23 Worlds. I am so thankful to Coach Brett Corman (USRowing) and Coach Claire Ochal (Harvard-Radcliffe) for encouraging me and believing in me every step of the way."

For Harvard-Radcliffe, Serra rowed in the fourth seat for much of the spring season in the Crimson's varsity eight. She sat seventh in the V8+ boat at the EAWRC Sprints and fifth at the Ivy League Championship.

"We are so proud of Kathryn and all of her accomplishments as a part of Radcliffe and the U23 US Team," said Ochal. "There is no one more deserving of this prestigious honor than Kathryn. She is an exceptional athlete and person,she is the embodiment of dedication, perseverance, humility, kindness, and remains one of the most ferocious racers I have ever seen."