Oliver Zeidler starts his pursuit of a fourth world title today in Amsterdam with a record-breaking European victory behind him and a refreshed routine his rivals may struggle to crack.
The 30-year-old German, Olympic champion in Paris two years ago, has spent more time with his partner in Switzerland while reducing his stays in Munich and Frankfurt. He also completed a master’s degree in Business Administration with honours last year.
The changes have broken the established rhythm of his preparation, but Zeidler believes the disruption could work in his favour.
“I was ready to try something new again,” Zeidler said in a recent ARD interview. “It may be that this becomes my strength.”
Results support that argument. Zeidler has won both World Rowing Cups he entered this season, in Seville and Lucerne, as well as the Diamond Challenge Sculls at Henley Royal Regatta. On 2 August, he secured his fourth European men’s single sculls title in Varese with a championship-record 6:36.39.
A Different Route to Amsterdam
Zeidler’s life has changed since Paris. Public attention eased after his Olympic victory, while study and time in Switzerland pulled him away from the places central to his rowing career. Munich is his home city; his club is based in Frankfurt.
His studies affected his 2025 preparation. After minimal training, he lost to New Zealand’s Finn Hamill in the Henley semi-final. Zeidler returned to the international circuit this year with victory in Seville, then won again in Lucerne before claiming his fifth Diamond Challenge Sculls title.
That Henley victory left him one short of the event record shared by Stuart Mackenzie and Mahé Drysdale. More immediately, it confirmed that his altered routine had not blunted his speed.
Varese provided further evidence: following a one-hour thunderstorm delay, Zeidler led early and continued to extend his advantage. His 6:36.39 lowered the European best time of 6:37.86 that he had set in the semi-final. Yauheni Zalaty finished 3.55 seconds behind, with Stefanos Ntouskos another 1.03 seconds back.
Ntouskos Holds the Title
Zeidler may have set the standard across 2026, but he does not arrive at the Bosbaan as defending world champion. Ntouskos, the Tokyo Olympic champion, beat him in the 2025 World Championship final in Shanghai to collect his first senior world title.
Zeidler led through 500 metres and remained in front at halfway. With less than half a second separating the first three scullers at 1,500 metres, Ntouskos produced the decisive sprint and passed the German before the line. Zalaty took bronze.
Zalaty has been Zeidler’s most consistent challenger this year, finishing second behind him at both World Cups he contested and again at the European Championships. The 41-strong Amsterdam entry also includes American Sam Melvin, who won World Cup II in Plovdiv and took bronze behind Zeidler in Lucerne.
Other A-final contenders include Switzerland’s Kai Schaetzle, Belgium’s Tristan Vandenbussche, Norway’s Jonas Juel and Romania’s Mihai Chiruta. Ntouskos, however, remains the man who has already found a route past Zeidler on the championship stage.
“They will of course try to find some way to beat me,” Zeidler said. “But I will not make it easy for them because hopefully I will remain unpredictable.”
