Under 23 rowing on its way to Strathclyde

Beginning 26 July, 52 nations will be gathering at the Strathclyde course (near Glasgow) to row 2000m as fast as possible.
Don’t expect any slow-pokes. Many of the 749 athletes competing have not just been racing at the senior level, they’ve been winning medals.

Entering into this category is Storm Uru of New Zealand. Uru came to Europe in June and competed at Rowing World Cup number two and three. Uru, last year’s Under 23 Champion, scored two silver medals at these two senior events and nearly got selected by his country to go to the World Rowing Championships. He will be hard to beat in Strathclyde in the lightweight men’s single event.

Also doing well at the senior level is Laura Schiavone of Italy. Schiavone competed in the women’s double and finished third at the final Rowing World Cup in Lucerne. At Strathclyde Schiavone goes solo, racing in the women’s single. But the Italian won’t have it easy. She’ll be up against New Zealand’s Emma Twigg who won the junior single in 2005 and then went on to join her country’s senior eight last year. Back in the single Twigg is in the boat she likes the best.

There is no doubt that Jitka Antosova and Gabriela Varekova of the Czech Republic will be leading the way in the women’s double. Antosova and Varekova are the reigning Under 23 Champions and, on top of this, at the senior level they have already picked up a bronze medal from the second Rowing World Cup of this year.

Now check out the rowing pedigree of Daniele Danesin of Italy. At just 21 years old, Danesin already has two senior World Championship titles. One from the lightweight men’s eight in 2005 and last year from the lightweight men’s quad. Danesin joins the under 23 lightweight quad this year at Strathclyde and comes to it fresh from a win at the senior level (the Lucerne Rowing World Cup) in the lightweight quad.

The World Rowing Under 23 Championships is often a first chance for young athletes supported by FISA’s Development Programme to compete at the international level. This year will see a first time participation for Nigeria and Sudan – a “significant advance for African rowing” says FISA’s Development Director Thor Nilsen.

The World Rowing Under 23 Championships regatta in Strathclyde (near Glasgow) begins on 26 July. The A Finals will be raced on Sunday 29 July. For all results and live race viewing during the event check out www.worldrowing.com.