A Bermudian rower has won the gold medal at the World Junior Rowing Championships as part of the triumphant United States women's eight team.

Michelle Pearson, from Pembroke, helped the US defend their crown in convincing fashion at the prestigious competition in Brive-la-Galillarde, in France, at the weekend.

The 18-year-old, who came through the Bermuda Rowing Association (BRA) ranks, has a US passport and been representing the country's rowing team for the past two years.

After taking the lead just before the midway point, the US dominated the second half of the race to defeat a strong New Zealand team by more than four seconds.

Sporting prowess runs in the Pearson family with her father, Kevin, having won the May 24 Marathon Derby in the 1980s in what was then a record time, while her brother, Erik, is the Bermuda indoor rowing record holder.

Michael Swain, president of the BRA, described Pearson's gold as a fantastic achievement.

"Outside the Olympics, the World Championships are pretty much the biggest event in rowing. It's a fantastic achievement by Michelle as she was up against some very strong teams in New Zealand and Germany.

"If she wants to represent the US senior team in the future she will have to go for trials. It's a big decision for her as it's a huge commitment to make. Until Bermuda catches up in rowing, and receives more financial support, she will represent the US.

"Michelle earned her sweep rowing (one oar) with the US but learned her skull rowing with the BOA.

He added: "To put it into context, rowing in an event like this is similar to lifting a 50 pound sack of potatoes from your ankles to your chest every two seconds for around eight minutes. It takes a tremendous amount of effort."

The US crew consisted of Chelsea Lucas, Kelly Bauer, Kristin Wentzel, Louise Breen, Rebeca Felix, Brandy Herald, Molly Hamrick, Elisabeth Murray and Pearson.

Lucas said: "We had some great moves in there, and we had really been working a lot on those as a boat. We had such great boat chemistry this year. We trusted each other so much and that made it all the better.

"We felt like this year was our time to really focus on our speed. And the fact that we were able to do that with a new coach, who did a fantastic job preparing us for this – we just felt really confident on how we went out and executed our race plan."

Other gold medallists at the World Rowing Junior Championships included Germany in the men's four with coxswain, women's single sculls, women's double sculls, men's double sculls and men's quadruple sculls; Serbia in the men's pair; Great Britain in the men's four; and China in the women's quadruple sculls. Germany won seven golds and a total of nine medals to top the medal table.

Any youngsters interested in learning to row can contact Bermudarowing@gmail.com