Road to Paris : The Single Sculls

It takes a special type of athlete, both mentally and physically, to compete internationally in the single sculls. The reasons to be a single sculler are mixed and varied. For some it’s a matter of necessity – they’re the only rower from their nation and they might not have anyone else to row with. For some it’s convenience. The single gives you the freedom to pick when and where you row without relying on team mates. For some it’s the love of being completely self-reliant. There’s no one else to blame and no one to blame you when the stroke is not right or the race doesn’t go to plan.

We take a close look at the single and what may happen during Paris Olympic qualification at this year’s World Rowing Championships. We also look beyond in the row to Paris.

Total quota places for Paris : 29 for the men’s single sculls, 29 for the women’s single sculls
Total number of athletes : 58
Qualification pathways:
9 quota places for men and 9 for women at the 2023 World Rowing Championships
5 quota places each at the Asian/Oceanian, Americas, and African Qualification regattas, 3 quota place at the European Qualification regatta
2 quota places each at the 2024 Final Olympic Qualification Regatta

Men’s Single Sculls

Reigning Olympic Champion : Stefanos Ntouskos, Greece
Reigning World Champion : Oliver Zeidler, Germany
World Rowing Cup III winner: Oliver Zeidler, Germany

With nine direct qualification spots for Paris, the B-Final is likely to be the one of the most interesting race of this year’s World Championships. Barring any major surprise, all the top names in this boat class should go through : Oliver Zeidler (GER), Sverri Nielsen (DEN), Stefanos Ntouskos (GRE), Tom Mackintosh (NZL), Ryuta Arakawa (JPN) are almost locks for a direct qualification.

We also expect some of the most experienced single scullers of the filed, such as Damir Martin and Kristian Vasilev (BUL), to put themselves in a good position to qualify for Paris. Kjetil Borch (NOR) has had an up and down season, but we can expect the Tokyo 2020 silver medallist to be ready when it matters it most.

Will we see a surprise in the top 9? Maybe from Nikolaj Pimenov (SRB), rowing on home waters? Or from Tim Brys (BEL), who’s been in the A-Final at World Cup II this year? Will Simon Van Dorp (NED) match the unbelievable performance of his teammate Lennart Van Lierop at the Europeans this year and sneak in the top 9?

While most of the single scullers would want to secure their qualification as early as this year, they will have two more opportunities to qualify and gain momentum towards the Games – a scenario that worked well for Ntouskos in 2021…

Women’s Single Sculls

Reigning Olympic Champion : Emma Twigg, New Zealand
Reigning World Champion : Karolien Florijn, Netherlands
World Rowing Cup III winner: Karolien Florijn, Netherlands

The direct qualification for Paris seems promised to three scullers : Karolien Florijn (NED), who still hasn’t lost a race since she stepped in the single after Tokyo ; the reigning Olympic Champion, Emma Twigg (NZL) ; and bronze medallist at last year’s World Championships, Tara Rigney (AUS).

Behind the trio, it will be interesting to follow the performances of Alexandra Foester (GER), winner at World Cup II, and Kara Kohler (USA) on the podium in Varese but absent in Lucerne. On top form, both should be in the top 9. Desislava Angelova (BUL) has four fourth place finishes this year and should also be in contention for a direct qualification – so should be Tokyo silver medallist Anna Prakaten (UZB).

And then there are the “wild cards”. Aurelia-Maxima Janzen (SUI) has been very impressive for her first senior European Championships and was just crowned World Rowing Under 23 Champion earlier this year. Magdalena Lobnig (AUT) is back in the single, a boat class where she won a bronze medal at the last Olympic Games. Jovana Arsic was on the podium in Bled and will racing on home waters. Elis Ozbay (TUR) was crowned World Under 23 Champion in the lightweight women’s single in July.

Behind the “top 3”, the field is really wide open. And some of the top names in this boat class will certainly have to go to their continental, or to the final qualification regatta.