Glorious day for Italy at the 2023 European Rowing Under 19 Championships

The Lac du Causse in southern France was host to 428 rowers from 20 nations, as they took part in the 2023 European Rowing Under 19 Championships. Many nations ended up on the podium, with rowers from 13 of the 20 nations engaged returning home with medals around their necks.

And what a day it was for Italy, who picked up seven gold medals, two silver and four bronze, en route to the top of the medal table. Romania and Turkiye each had two golds each, while host nation France had one, and four medals in total. As always with the Under 19, racing was sharp, crisp, and the atmosphere was great in Brive-la-Gaillarde.

On Sunday, the first gold medals of the day went to Romania and Turkiye, in the Women’s and Men’s Coxed Four. It was then Aurora Spirito, the reigning silver medallist at last year’s World Rowing Under 19 Championships, who started the Italian medal haul, winning the Women’s Single Sculls in dominating fashion over Hungary and the Czech Republic. She was quickly followed by Marco Selva, who managed to get a second consecutive gold medal for Italy by 0.46 seconds over Halil Kaan Koroglu of Turkiye in the Men’s Single Sculls. Peter Strecansky of Slovakia, who competed at the 2023 World Rowing Cup I in Zagreb a couple weeks ago, won the bronze medal.

Host nation France won their lone gold medal of the day in the Women’s Pair, where Leontine Fonquet and Lea Hersovici had a convincing win on home waters to the delight of the crowd. The French Men’s Pair of Victor Martin and Louis Descot did their best to get a second gold medal, but could not quite catch-up Turkiye over the line.

Three consecutive gold medals ensued for Italy, in the Women’s Quadruple Sculls, the Women’s and Men’s Four – the last one by just 0.16 seconds over Romania. The Italian anthem would be heard two more times, with back-to-back victories in the Men’s and Women’s Double Sculls, to conclude a glorious day for the young Squadra Azzura who’s coming back to Italy with a total of 13 medals overall.

Brive saw also a great performance by the young crew from Poland in the Men’s Quadruple Sculls. Reigning World Champions at senior level, the young poles managed to replicate that performance at U19 level, in a very tight race with Bulgaria and Czech Republic. The Czechs would get a well-deserved gold medal in the Men’s Eight, while Romania’s win in the Women’s Eight was a bit more comfortable.

For race reports, photos and race results, visit www.worldrowing.com.

Many of these athletes will return to France later this year, when it hosts to the 2023 World Rowing Under 19 Championships, from 2 to 6 August in Vaires-sur-Marne, on what will be the Paris 2024 Olympic & Paralympic course.