Day one at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships in Duisburg, Germany produced tight racing across the board, every boat class featured in the schedule with the exception of the mixed double and mixed eight. Testing winds kept the times in check, but close qualification battles and several challenges to the defending champions gave the regatta an immediate edge.
Photo GBR M2-
Great Britain produced four fastest heat times in Duisburg on Thursday. An intermittent headwind, mixed with a crosswind, slowed the field and complicated boat handling. Most leading contenders advanced, with every returning champion in action remaining in medal contention after the opening day.
Britain, top of the 2025 medal table with four titles, set the pace in the U23 men’s pair, women’s four, men’s quadruple sculls and men’s eight. The British eight began its pursuit of a seventh consecutive title with a heat victory, although New Zealand recovered from a slow opening kilometre to finish with overlap. The USA won the other heat ahead of Australia.
Tight margins in the sculling heats
The men’s double sculls carried the largest entry and the toughest first-day cut: only 12 of the 24 crews advanced towards the medal race, their next test is Friday’s semifinals.
Belgium advanced in second place despite recording a slower time than eliminated crews from Brazil, France and Poland. Portugal’s Pedro Rodrigues and Tomas Neves, both experienced at World Cup level, recorded the fastest qualifying time. Ireland’s 2025 junior world champions also won their heat, while Germany beat defending U23 champions Italy.
Duisburg Day One: Champions Set the Early Pace
Qualification in the women’s single came down to less than half a second. Australia’s Sarah Bourke and Czechia’s Ella Boldisova each recorded 8:26.51, while Latvia’s Evija Freimane missed the semifinals in 8:27.00. Ireland’s Sophia Young was the fastest qualifier, ahead of Greek junior world champion Vavara Lykomitrou.
In the men’s single, defending champion Cevdet Ege Mutlu of Türkiye progressed, but Denmark’s August Wisholm posted the leading time.
Champions face early pressure
Several 2025 winners advanced without topping the time sheets. Germany’s Nathalie Sendjuk was comfortably quickest in the lightweight women’s single heats, ahead of defending champion Melissa Schincariol of Italy. In the women’s quad, the USA recorded the fastest finish, although Britain eased its effort after taking control by halfway.
Australia’s Lucy Searle and Imogen Grey won their women’s pair heat by a length from Britain. The pair came from the Texas first eight that won the NCAA title in May.
Photo GER LM1x
The youngest crews also won their races. Sixteen-year-olds Tatiana Cherkosova and Aleksandra Grigoreva, racing as AIN2, won a women’s double heat. Fellow 16-year-olds Akbarali Abduvaliev of Uzbekistan and Erwan Chamouleau of France completed composed preliminary races in the PR3 men’s single.
Hosts Germany ended day one with contenders across several classes, but also saw some boats directed into minor finals. Racing resumes on Friday at 09:05 CEST, with semifinals and further qualification contests beginning to narrow the medal fields.
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