04 Jul 2023
Rowers to Watch at the 2023 World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, Switzerland
The 2023 World Rowing Cup Series will be wrapping up with the third and final event this coming weekend in Lucerne, Switzerland. Often thought of as the ‘Mecca’ of Rowing, Lucerne will welcome nearly 700 of the world’s top rowers, as they battle it out for the World Rowing Cup, both in the individual boat classes, and for the overall trophy.
Olympic Boat Classes
Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls
Entries: 27
World Rowing Cup Leader: Switzerland
The current World Rowing Cup leaders are so far undefeated this season. With two World Cup wins, and a European Championships title, Raphael Ahumada and Jan Schaeuble of Switzerland are the ones to beat. But the reigning World and Olympic Champions have not yet competed this season – Paul O’Donovan and Fintan McCarthy are due to be back racing in Lucerne.
The French crew of Hugo Beurey and Ferdinand Ludwig are the only ones to have beaten the Swiss during a regatta – the Semifinal during the 2023 World Rowing Cup II in Varese – in which they also set a new World Cup Best Time. The French had to settle for silver in the Final, but will no doubt be looking to beat the Swiss after proving they can do it.
Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls
Entries: 23
World Rowing Cup Leader: Great Britain
The lightweight women’s double sculls provided one of the closest A-Finals at the 2023 World Rowing Cup II in Varese, and we except a similar finish in Lucerne. The favourites coming into the event must be Emily Craig and Imogen Grant of Great Britain, who are the World & European Champions, as well as the World Rowing Cup Leaders. The field is full of crews who have stood on the podium this year as well – Switzerland’s Frederique Rol & Patricia Merz, as well as Eline Rol & Olivia Nacht, Austria’s Louisa Altenbuher and Lara Tiefenthaler, Greece’s Dimitri Eleni Kontou and Zoe Fitsiou, and France’s Claire Bove and Laura Tarantola.
Two European titles and one World title in the Lightweight women’s single sculls later, Ionela Cozmiuc of Romania is back in the double with a new partner – Mariana-Laura Dumitru is still Under 19, but has already raced a year at the Under 23 level, no doubt to gain experience in the lightweight category.
Also with a new doubles partner is Jackie Kiddle of New Zealand. Kiddle will race with Shannon Cox, who is making her debut on the international stage.
Men’s Single Sculls
Entries: 46
World Rowing Cup Leader: Germany
The men’s single sculls is often the largest boat class at any event, and the 2023 World Rowing Cup III will be no exception. With 46 entries, there is no room for error.
There is no doubt that all eyes will be on Oliver Zeidler of Germany, the reigning World Champion and current World Cup Leader. He has said that his goal this season is to complete the World Rowing Cup Hat Trick – wins at all three World Rowing Cups in the same boat class in the same year. His toughest competition will surely come from Denmark’s Sverri Nielsen, who has finished second behind Zeidler at the first two events this year. Greece’s Stefanos Ntouskos, the reigning Olympic Champ, has not yet raced the World Cup circuit this year, but did finish second (and one place ahead of Zeidler) at the European Rowing Championships in May.
The Netherlands have opted to switch out their European Champion in this boat class, Lennart van Lierop, for Simon van Dorp, who finished second in the men’s quad at that same event.
Graeme Thomas of Great Britain did take home the win last year at the same event in Lucerne, and will be looking for a repeat this year. Kristian Vasilev of Bulgaria came second to Thomas last year, and will also be present again this year.
One of the largest surprises at the 2023 World Rowing Cup II in Varese must have been Japan’s Ryuta Arakawa, who posted the fastest time across all Heats, won his quarterfinal, and came second to Zeidler in the Semi. He finished the regatta with a silver medal, marking Japan’s first ever A-Final and medal in this boat class.
The men’s single sculls also has it’s fair share of athletes who once raced as lightweights – Belgium’s Tim Brys, Japan Ryuta Arakawa, Uruguay’s Bruno Certraro Berriolo, Greece’s Stefanos Ntouskos, France’s Theophile Onfroy, and many more.
Women’s Single Sculls
Entries: 30
World Rowing Cup Leader: Germany
Just as in the men’s single sculls, Germany lead the World Rowing Cup points in this boat class. It’s the young Alexandra Foester, two time World U23 Champ in the women’s single, who won in Varese and claimed eight points. She is no stranger to the World Cup podium, having won gold in an epic A-Final last year in Lucerne. No doubt she has her sights set on repeating that feat.
Also with eight World Cup points is Spain’s Virginia Diaz Rivas, who won gold in Zagreb at the first World Cup of the season. She finished in the B-Final in Varese, but will be looking to solidify her mark in this boat class.
The reigning World Champion from the Netherlands, Karolien Florijn, has not yet raced a World Cup this year, but does already have the European title under her belt. She is undefeated across all races since switching to this boat class after the Tokyo Olympic Games. But she will have to keep an eye out for the reigning Olympic Champ, Emma Twigg, who finished with a silver at last year’s World Champs, as well as Tara Rigney of Australia, who completed that podium with the bronze.
Men’s Pair
Entries: 31
World Rowing Cup Leader: Switzerland
With 31 entries, the men’s pair is the second largest field at the 2023 World Rowing Cup III. Roman Roeoesli and Andrin Gulich of Switzerland are the World Rowing Cup leaders and current European Rowing Champions (in a great photo finish A-Final against the British). While a relatively new combination, they have already shown that they are ones to watch.
Great Britain won over the Swiss in Varese. Oliver Wynne-Griffith and Tom George are in their second season in this combination, and already hold a World Championship bronze medal.
The reigning World Champions are the Romanians – Sergiu Bejan and Marius Cozmiuc – and the reigning World silver medallists are the Spanish – Jaime Canalejo Pazos and Javier Garcia Ordonez. The Spanish have already been on the podium this year – a silver at World Cup I, and a bronze and Europeans, but the Romanians have yet to find their swing again.
Women’s Pair
Entries: 19
World Rowing Cup Leader: Spain
The Australians are on fire! With a dominant win at the 2023 World Rowing Cup II, and the following weekend at the Dutch Holland Beker regatta, Jessica Morrison and Annabelle McIntyre, Olympic Champions in the women’s four, are looking to redeem themselves after a B-Final win at the Tokyo Olympics in this boat class.
Esther Briz Zamorano and Aina Cid of Spain lead the World Cup points in this event, and have stood on the podium at both World Rowing Cups and the Europeans so far this season. Watch out too for the Abraham sisters of Chile, who won the 2023 World Rowing Cup I in the four, and are now back in the pair, and Roxana Anghel and Ioana Vrinceanu, the recent European Champions in that boat class.
Men’s Double Sculls
Entries: 28
World Rowing Cup Leader: Italy
The Sinkovic Brothers are the standout name in this boat class. After having accumulated their 50th international medal at the 2023 World Rowing Cup I in Zagreb, there is no slowing them down. The World and Olympic Champion French double of Androdias and Boucheron will be absent – instead, Boucheron will be rowing with Valentin Onfroy, who finished in the A-Final in the men’s single in Varese.
Melvin Twellaar and Stef Broenink of the Netherlands, the Olympic silver medallists, will sure the be in the running for the podium. As will Aleix Garcia Pujolar and Rodrigo Conde Romero of Spain.
Robbie Manson, the World Best Time holder in the men’s single sculls, is making his comeback to international racing, after retiring a few years back. He will be racing with Ben Mason, who has a good amount of international experience at the Under 19 and Under 23 level, and is also an seasoned coastal rower.
Women’s Double Sculls
Entries: 17
World Rowing Cup Leader: People’s Republic of China
It is hard to mention the women’s double sculls these days without mentioning Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis. The duo have nearly every title possible – Olympic Champions, World Champions, European Champions, and World Rowing Women’s Crew of the Year. Together, they have been undefeated in this boat since the A-Final at the 2019 World Rowing Championships, where they finished with the silver. In Bled at the 2023 European Rowing Championships, the Lithuanian double of Dovile Rimkute and Donata Karaliene seemed ready to end this streak for the Romanians, until Bodnar and Radis pulled out a wicked sprint finish to retain the title. Will this be another battle between these two crews in Lucerne?
Many other crews who have stood on the podium this year will also be present – China’s Lu Shiyu and Shuangmei Shen, who won gold in Varese, France’s Margaux Bailleul and Emma Lunatti, Germany’s Leonie Menzel and Maren Voelz, and South Africa’s Paige Padenhorst and Katherine Williams.
And a crew that is certainly worth keeping an eye on – New Zealand’s Brooke Francis and Lucy Spoors. Both became mothers within the past year, and are proving that returning to elite sport is possible with the right support and team. Both were World Champions in 2019, and hold Olympic Silver medals, although in different boat classes – Francis in the women’s double sculls, and Spoors in the women’s eight.
Men’s Four
Entries: 20
World Rowing Cup Leader: Switzerland
In Varese, the reigning World Champions from Great Britain overhauled the reigning Olympic Champions from Australia to take the gold. Surely, the Aussies will be looking for a rematch in Lucerne. Also with their eyes on the podium will be the French, who took home the bronze at the European Championships, as well as the Ukrainians and the Swiss, who were both on the podium at World Cup I.
New Zealand will race for the first time this season, with two of their Olympic Champions from the men’s eight now in the four. The Netherlands is also boating a new lineup, with Niki van Sprang stepping out of the eight to join the Rienks brothers and Ruben Knab in the four.
Women’s Four
Entries: 11
World Rowing Cup Leader: United States of America
After the 2023 World Rowing Cup II, the United States are the leaders in this boat class. They took over from Chile, who won in Zagreb, but were absent in Varese. Both of these crews will be missing Lucerne. The Brits, who finished second at the 2023 World Rowing Cup II and at the 2023 European Rowing Championships, might be the favourites for the top of the podium. They were beat by the Romanians at the Europeans, who had pulled out a great sprint finish in typical Romanian fashion. A rematch is expected on the Rotsee!
Men’s Quadruple Sculls
Entries: 13
World Rowing Cup Leader: Switzerland
The Polish are the reigning World and European Champions in this boat class, but recently were beat by the British in the last 100m of the 2112m of Henley Royal Regatta. No doubt that the Poles will be looking to prove that on the standard 2000m they are still on top.
Watch out too for the Dutch, teaming up two of their Olympic gold combination (Koen Metsemakers and Tone Wieten) with the recent European Champion in the single, Lennart van Lierop and Finn Florijn. Can anyone prevent these three crews to stand on the podium?
Women’s Quadruple Sculls
Entries: 12
World Rowing Cup Leader: Switzerland
It is hard to overlook the Chinese in this boat class. In this lineup, they have been unbeatable since 2019, and are the current Olympic and World Champions.
Great Britain, Germany, Switzerland, and Ukraine, all of whom were on the podium at this year’s World Rowing Cups, will also be present and vying for a medal once again.
The Netherlands have decided to add their European and World silver medallist women’s double crew of Roos de Jong and Laila Youssifou into their boat.
Men’s Eight
Entries: 7
World Rowing Cup Leader: Great Britain
After being absent in Zagreb at the first World Cup, and being raced as a straight final in Varese, the seven entries will require all crews to qualify through Heats, but all crews are guaranteed World Rowing Cup points.
Great Britain are the reigning World and European Champions in this boat class, and are also atop the World Rowing Cup leader board. At the European Championships in Bled, they were pushed to the line in a photo finish with Romania, with the Netherlands only 0.52 seconds back in bronze.
The famed German men’s eight is also building back up and finding their swing once again, with a bronze medal in Varese to prove it.
Women’s Eight
Entries: 4
World Rowing Cup Leader: Australia
With only four entries, the women’s eight will have the option of a preliminary race before heading to a straight Final on Sunday.
The three boats that raced in Varese will be present. Australia’s and Great Britain’s lineups from that event remains unchanged. Canada will have Olympic gold medallist Sydney Payne back in their boat, after she was unable to race in Varese. The Canadians raced with Payne at Henley Royal Regatta, where they beat the British in the Final.
Romania won the European Rowing Championships in this boat class, but only three of those rowers and their coxswain will contest it in Lucerne.
International Boat Classes
Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls
Entries: 24
After a disappointing finish at the European Championships on his home waters of Bled, Slovenia’s Rajko Hrvat will be eager to prove that his years of experience on his competitors don’t discount him.
Switzerland’s Andri Struzina has been a podium regular this season, picking up two silvers at the World Cups, and a bronze at the European Rowing Championships. Could the home water advantage be the push that Struzina needs to reach the top step?
Also with his eyes on the podium will be Belgium’s Tibo Vyvey, who finished with a silver in this boat class at the 2022 World Rowing Cup III in the same location.
Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls
Entries: 14
The complete podium in this boat class from the 2023 World Rowing Cup II will be racing in Lucerne. The USA’s Sophia Luwis has been building back after a car accident ended her season early last year. With her silver medal in Varese, she proves she is on the right path. Aurelie morizot of France, who won her first senior medal with the gold in Varese, will be looking for a similar performance.
Iran’s Nazanin Malaei made history back in 2021, when she qualified for the A/B Semifinal at the Tokyo Olympic Games, and guaranteed herself a top 12 finish. She is also the reigning Asian Champion in this boat class, and will be looking to build on that on the world stage.
The 2023 World Rowing Cup III will take place 7-9 July, in Lucerne Switzerland.