Medals go to 19 countries at the 2017 European Rowing Championships

For immediate release
Racice, 28 May 2017

The 2017 European Rowing Championships in Racice, the Czech Republic had crews from 19 nations walk away with medals in a day of fast finishing times and the crowning of first-time European Champions. An enthusiastic crowd of spectators experienced fantastic weather conditions here, 60 kilometres north of Prague.

Local hero Ondrej Synek of the Czech Republic proved to be the big drawcard and he didn’t disappoint as he raced the men’s single sculls from start to finish in the lead. Olympic silver medallist Damir Martin of Croatia took second while Olympic finalist Stanislau Shcharbachenia of Belarus was the bronze medallist. Belarus also took silver in the women’s single sculls when 44-year-old 1996 and 2000 Olympic Champion Ekaterina Karsten sprinted through at the end to finish just behind Great Britain’s Victoria Thornley. Thornley was the sole gold medal for Great Britain which last year topped the European Championship medals table.

This year it was Italy that came first on the medals table for the first time since 2012. The Italians achieved this by winning gold in the men’s pair, men’s four and men’s double sculls. Italy also earned one silver and four bronze medals. In second place on the medals table was Romania with three golds and one silver medal. Romania got back on top in the women’s eight by beating the Netherlands to the line. They won the women’s pair with Laura Oprea and Madalina Beres earning gold in both the pair and the eight. The women’s four also took gold to clean up the women’s sweep events.

Third and equal on the medals table were the Czech Republic and Germany. Both nations won two gold medals and one bronze. As well as Synek in the single, the Czech’s took gold in the women’s double sculls. Germany’s gold medals came in the men’s eight and women’s quadruple sculls.

The European Rowing Championships is open to the 46 European national rowing federations, including Israel. There are 17 boat classes (14 Olympic events plus three International events). This year the women’s four raced as an exhibition event.

In 2018 the European Rowing Championships will take place as part of the multi-sport European Championships with rowing being raced in Glasgow, Scotland.

For details on rowing: www.worldrowing.com
Photo for use by media: https://www.flickr.com/photos/worldrowingofficial
For European Rowing Championships: http://www.worldrowing.com/events/2016-european-rowing-championships/