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Piotr Plominski, Men's Single Sculls, Poland, 2021 World Rowing Cup III, Sabaudia, Italy / World Rowing/Benedict Tufnell

After successfully holding the European Rowing Under 23 Championships in 2020, the event is once again possible and for 2021 it is to be held in the town of Kruszwica in central Poland.

This will be the fifth European under-23 championships and athletes from 30 European countries are racing to claim the European Champion title. The most competitive boat class looks to be the men’s single sculls with the largest entry list of all boat classes – 20 countries in total. Leading the way is likely to be Emil Neykov of Bulgaria.

Neykov comes to Kruszwica directly off the back of winning the men’s single at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships last month in the Czech Republic. He will face off again against under-23 silver medallist, Piotr Plominski of Poland and with new challenges likely to come from Matteo Sartori of Italy who medalled in the men’s quadruple sculls.  sculls at the under-23 championships. Kai Schaetzle of Switzerland was third in the men’s double sculls at the under-23 championships and also has potential to go fast in the single.

For the women, the lightweight women’s single sculls and women’s double sculls have attracted the biggest fields with both having entries from 11 countries. In the women’s double, the Greek crew of Evangelia Anastasiadou and Evangelia Fragkou look to be the crew to beat. Anastasiadou finished second in the lightweight women’s single sculls at the World Rowing Under 23 Championships last month, while Fragkou was third in the women’s double sculls at this same event.

Germany regularly comes with the biggest team and this year is no exception. The German team includes boats in 19 of the 22 boat classes being raced. Italy is next up with 16 boats and then comes Romania with 15 boats. Last year Italy topped the medals table with Romania a close second.

The European Rowing Under 23 Championships is open to all European Member National Federations for athletes under the age of 23. A rower may compete in an Under 23 rowing event until 31 December of the year in which he/she reaches the age of 22.

Racing begins on Saturday 4 September 2020 with heats and progresses through repechages, semifinals and to the finals on Sunday 5 September.

Entries can be found here.

Use the hashtag: #ERU23CH, #ERU23CHKruszwica, #rowing, #europeanrowing