Not the start Dutch Olympic W1x champion, Karolien Florijn had hoped for. The 28-year old sculler capsized less than two minutes into her first race at the 2026 World Rowing Cup I in Seville, Spain. But why?
At the start of the third heat of the women’s single sculls, a photographer saw Florijn raise her hand while on the pontoon and overheard her tell the umpire that her foot stretcher was loose: she was told the race had to start.
Florijn, who was unbeaten in the single during the Paris Olympiad, initially made a quick start but capsized just before the 500 meter marker. The Dutch team subsequently lodged a protest but this was dismissed by World Rowing’s Board of the Jury.
The result stands.
Dutch World W2x champion Roos de Jong won the heat in a time of 7:38.33, three seconds ahead of French Olympian Emma Lunatti. These two scullers progress directly to tomorrow’s semifinal.
