Race Report: Italy claims four out of nine titles in first U23 finals

The first 2023 World Rowing Under 23 medals were awarded today in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. As things started to heat up off the water, so did the competition on the water. It was a strong morning for Italy as they claimed four World U23 titles, while Romania overturned the result from 2022 in the women’s quad.

Women’s coxed four (BW4+) – Final

These crews had already raced each other earlier in the week during the Preliminary Race, so the form was known. Australia, as defending champions got out the fastest and took an early lead with New Zealand close behind. Australia continued to look in control of the race at halfway while the battle was on for the silver medal between New Zealand the United States of America, there was nothing between them. Germany and Italy were falling off the pace, so the medals looked fairly set. In the closing stages, the front of the field really started to close up – could Australia hold on to the lead? They responded to the charge and claimed the first gold medal of the Championships.

Result: AUS, NZL, USA, ITA, GER

Men’s coxed four (BM4+) – A-Final

It was a fast start for Italy, the crew who had set the quickest time from the heats, but Australia soon moved into the lead – could they match the result of their women? As the crews went under the bridge at halfway, it was Italy in the lead with the defending champions, Great Britain, close behind. Meanwhile, Australia was starting to fall slightly behind. In the third quarter, Great Britain really started to make their move, trying to overhaul Italy. The British crew now had clear water ahead of Australia. As the chants of “Italia” came from the stands, would the familiar Italian sprint be enough to hold off Great Britain? USA had also now moved up into the medal zone and the front of the field was closing up – Great Britain was having to respond. It was gold for Italy, and with Great Britain taking silver, the USA had got themselves ahead of Australia to take the bronze.

Result: ITA, GBR, USA, AUS, NZL, GER

Lightweight women’s pair (BLW2-) – Final

With just three boats in this race, it was all to play for. Italy established an early lead while Thailand and Turkey were fairly level in the early stages, racing for the silver medal. The Italian crew were looking really dominant as the race came into the closing stages. Turkey had broken free from Thailand and were sitting in silver medal position. Nobody could catch Italy and there was no real need for a final sprint, but they did it anyway to the delight of the Italian supporters.

Result: ITA, TUR, THA

Lightweight men’s pair (BLM2-) – Final

Italy went out to an early lead, Stefano Pinsone and Francesco Bardelli clearly keen to improve on their silver medal from last year. However, USA crossed the 500m line first with Italy sitting in second place Serbia was holding bronze medal position with Germany slightly off the pace. Would we see another Italian sprint and hear their anthem again? It looked like they were going to have their work cut out as the USA had a strong lead now. The Italians just didn’t have enough in their final sprint and it was a comfortable gold for Mason Banks and Jackson Fuller as they crossed the line with clear water ahead of Italy.

Result: USA, ITA, SRB, GER

Women’s pair (BW2-) – A-Final

There was very little to separate the six crews in the early stages of this race. It was Lithuania that was first to the 500m marker with the Netherlands hot on their tail and France sitting in third position. The positions remained unchanged although, by that point, France had slipped slightly further back. Inside the 500m, the Dutch were starting to wind up, but it looked like Lithuania were holding them off. The Dutch duo of Linn Van Aanholt and Noortje Wilms really started to sprint to the line, but Martyna Kazlauskaite and Kamile Kralikaite maintained the lead and crossed the line first to become World Rowing U23 Champions.

Result: LTU, NED, FRA, AUT, ESP, GER

Men’s pair (BM2-) – A-Final

Great Britain were off to a great start as Miles Beeson looked for his third consecutive World U23 gold medal, along with pairs partner Harry Geffen. It was looking good for the British as they crossed the first two timing points in the lead but the Australian pair of Jarrod Lord and Mitch Salisbury weren’t going to let them get away with it too easily. The British would need to keep fighting to the line. Inside the final 500m as the noise from the crowds began to increase, the field really closed up with Italy now sprinting to the line. Could Great Britain hold on? It went all the way to the line and GB just took it. 

Result: GBR, ITA, AUS, NZL, GRE, BUL

Lightweight women’s quadruple sculls (BLW4x) – Final

With four boats, it was a race not to be last. It was Italy, as defending champions in this boat class, and despite their comfortable lead over Germany, they kept the rating high, up at 38 strokes per minute. By 1000m, the strong Italian crew was starting to open up clear water and really looking dominant. In the final quarter of the race, could Germany do anything to catch Italy? Turkey was sitting in bronze medal position with the Netherlands bringing up the rear. Everyone knew Italy had a final sprint inside them if they needed it, but they held their comfortable lead to cross the line a length ahead of Germany.

Result: ITA, GER, TUR, NED

Lightweight men’s quadruple sculls (BLM4x) – Final

It was another boat class where Italy were looking to defend their title at U23 Champions and they certainly got the early advantage as they crossed the 500m marker first, narrowly ahead of Germany. The Italian boat had opened up a slightly bigger lead by halfway, but it certainly wasn’t over, Germany were going to keep the pressure on them all of the way, while Canada was sitting in bronze medal position. The places looked fairly set in the final quarter as Italy had the final sprint up their sleeve if they needed it. Germany kept the pressure on, but Italy defended their title.

Result: ITA, GER, CAN, USA, FRA, SRB

Women’s quadruple sculls (BW4x) – A-Final

It was another absolutely stacked field in this boat class, so bound to be an exciting race. Romania had a point to prove as they had been beaten by half a second by the Netherlands in this boat class last year, and the Romanian crew was completely unchanged. They had a fast start and were leading the field at both the 500m and 1000m timing points but the Czech crew remained hot on their heels while the Dutch crew was sitting in bronze medal position, holding off a charge from Germany. Could Germany steal a medal as the race came into the final quarter? The Netherlands crew was having to respond. Meanwhile, Romania was continuing to lead. Germany ran out of water allowing the Dutch boat to hold on to the bronze medal. Romania had overturned the result from last year and become U23 World Champions.

Result: ROU, CZE, NED, GER, LTU, ITA