World University Rowing Championships Attracts Olympians

Lac du Causse, Brive, France
© FISU

From Athens, Greece to Brive La Gaillard, France, the fourth fastest woman in the world, Mirka Knapkova of the Czech Republic, has barely had time for post-Olympics reflection.

The FISU (International University Sports Federation) 8th World University Rowing Championships is currently taking place in Brive La Gaillard, France. Racing in the women's single, Knapkova will face fellow Athens Olympian Sophie Balmary of France. Balmary is part of the biggest team competing at these championships and leaves her Olympic pair partner to compete for her university in the single.

A record number of 31 countries are racing on Lac du Causse with finals scheduled for Saturday 4 September. New nations this year include teams from Austria and Ukraine. Thirteen events are raced with the men's eight acclaimed as the blue ribband event and this year a record 14 crews have entered.

The championships are later in the year than usual due to the Olympic Games. Normally the regatta is held in early August following the World Rowing Under 23 Regatta as many of the same athletes choose to compete in both.

The World University Championships are held every two years. Nottingham, Great Britain was the preceding host in 2002. Rowing is not yet officially on the University Championship programme so host cities get to choose whether they would like to include it. In Nottingham rowing was part of the programme and 22 countries participated.  Eighteen nations participated in Poznan, Poland in 2000.  

Lionel Girard, FISU chairman of the technical commission for rowing says the weather is looking very good. "We call this the French Lucerne," say Girard describing Lac du Causse which has already hosted the 2001 French National Rowing Championships as well as the 2001 European Junior Rowing Cup.

Girard is expecting that by 2009 rowing will be part of the permanent programme of the University Games. "In most countries rowing is a big part of the promotion of the university," says Girard.

For results and further information click here. 

The World Rowing media team values feedback.