Race Report: First World Rowing Beach Sprint 2023 medals awarded in Barletta

Barletta beach was absolutely packed with crowds and they were treated to knockout racing across four boat classes this afternoon in a series of quarterfinals, semifinals and finals at the 2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals. The conditions started to pick up slightly during the afternoon making the racing evening more exciting and across the four finals, our first World Champions of 2023 were crowned.

Coastal Under 19 Men’s Solo

The Under 19 men were the first to compete in the Last 8 knockout stages where the racing comes thick and fast and a small mistake can see the end of your competition. Malachi Anderson of the USA was the first to secure progression from the quarterfinals. Just a few minutes later Tunisia’s Ahmed Talbi steered the best course on the return leg to secure his place in the semifinal. There was delight for the home crowd when recent European Champion Lucio Fugazzotto won the sprint to the line, despatching Germany in the process. The final slot in the semifinals was booked by Egypt’s Omar Elkomaty who beat Spain to the line. The first semifinal came down to the sprint to the line when Anderson just had the extra speed and secured his place in the Final A. As the breeze started to pick up slightly, going across the course, Fugazzotto was first to land on the beach in semifinal 2, having managed the return leg slightly better. The roars of the crowds went up as he ran to the line to take the second place in Final A.

As the Final B got underway, the pressure was on to earn the first medal, the bronze in this boat class. The breeze caused both scullers to be pushed off course as they returned to the beach although while they landed at similar times, it was Omar Elkomaty of Egypt who had the fastest run and claimed bronze.

The Final A had been billed to be a close race, however while both Anderson and Fugazzotto got into their boats, Anderson lost his blade in one of the early strokes causing the Italian to gain an early lead. It was Fugazzotto who got to the turning buoy first as Anderson was struggling to make up the gap. The noise from the Italians increased as their athlete hit the beach and ran to the line and soon became their golden boy. He was the first gold medallist of the 2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals, the first ever medal for Italy in this boat class.

2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Champion:  Lucio Fugazzotto, ITALY
Silver: Malachi Anderson, United States of America
Bronze: Omar Elkomaty, Egypt

Coastal Under 19 Women’s Solo

With just a few minutes to catch our breath after the CJM1x, the women’s equivalent boat class got underway. Annelise Hahl of the USA gained an early advantage in the first quarterfinal, but she had to make big adjustments in the return leg as the increasing wind pushed both scullers across. However, Hahl was first to the beach and hit the buzzer first to secure her place in the semifinal. It was a speedy run from Spain’s Lucia Navarro Blasco in the second semifinal and maintained a higher stroke rate through the shorter sharper waves, but Egypt’s Hannah Elsobky was not letting her get away. Elsobky landed on the beach first and stormed home managing to get to the line just 1.53 seconds ahead of Navarro Blasco. In quarterfinal 3, all eyes were on Tunisia’s Hela Belhaje Mohamed, who has won this boat class for the last two years – could she make it a hat trick? Belhaje Mohamed looked strong with a smile on her face as she ran to the line to secure her place in the semifinal. Next up was recent European Champion Evelyn Pakule of Great Britain against local girl Maria Lanciano of Italy. Pakule’s experience really showed as she handled the conditions just slightly better and was able to confirm a place in what was likely to be a competitive semifinal against Belhaje Mohamed.

Hall of the USA started the first semifinal really solidly while Elsobky was struggling slightly with the waves which allowed Hall to open up a lead in the early stages. The American sculler had a commanding lead while the Egyptian’s route back to the beach meant she had a very long run to get to the line, it was a place in the Final for the USA. The second semifinal was expected to be quite some battle as last year’s World Champion went up against this year’s European Champion. Belhaje Mohamed has the quickest entry to the boat and got the early lead taking about three strokes before Pakule was underway. The Tunisian was the first around the turning marker and had her sights firmly set on a place in the Final A. She continued to extend her lead on the return row and handled the conditions just slightly better.

Great Britain’s Evelyn Pakule had the quickest start in the Final B as she went out racing for the bronze the medal. She had a great turn around the buoy and then continued to extend her lead in the row back to the beach. There was no need for a sprint to the line for Pakule as she claimed the bronze medal for Great Britain.

Everyone was wondering if Hela Belhaje Mohamed could make it three consecutive world titles in this boat class as she sprinted away from the line in the Final A. She looked impressive throughout although Hall wasn’t letting her have it easily. With a huge smile on her face, Belhaje Mohamed cruised the line to take her third World title and become the most decorated beach sprint rower in history.

2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Champion: Hela Belhaje Mohamed, TUNISIA
Silver: Annalise Hahl, United States of America
Bronze: Evelyn Pakule, Great Britain

Coastal Mixed Coxed Quadruple Sculls

With two Olympians in each of the boats from Ireland and New Zealand, the first quarterfinal was expected to be close. New Zealand made it to the turning marker first, but Ireland wasn’t far behind. There was nothing between the two boats on the row to the beach but the sprint was enough to secure the win for New Zealand. The USA went up against Great Britain in quarterfinal 2 and the American boat seemed to get slightly caught up in the surf. GB was first to go round the turning marker, but it was still very close. GB’s runner Jerry Owen just couldn’t match the speed from America’s Christopher Bak and it was the USA that progressed. France made the third quarterfinal comfortable as they beat Spain while in the fourth quarterfinal, it was the home nation, Italy that made the turn ahead of Germany and were first back to the beach. Just to make sure, two of the crew sprinted to the line to secure their progression.

The first semifinal saw New Zealand go up against the USA. The USA had a fantastic start, powering down over the crest of the waves. As silver medallists from last year, New Zealand were keen to try and close the gap, but the 2022 bronze medallists, the USA was out ahead on the return leg and first back to the beach securing them a comfortable place in the Final A. The second semifinal looked to be a much closer affair as both Italy and France went around the turning marker simultaneously. It looked like it was going to all come down to the sprint, but it was Italy to the beach and Maria Elena Zerboni ran for the line, the crowds went wild.

The Final B between France and New Zealand was so close and was going to come down to the sprint to the line. As the boats landed on the beach, both the bowman and cox of the New Zealand jumped out of the boat to sprint to the line with cox Matthew Dunham cleary determined to ensure they got the bronze medal he overtook crewmate Michael Brake while sprinting to the line, but it was enough to earn them bronze.

The atmosphere among the Italian crowds was incredible as the Final A got underway and it was clear from the start that it was going to be a close one. The USA went off to a flying start but if they did have a lead, it was only just. The two quads went round the turning marker with absolutely nothing between them, the USA perhaps having a slightly tighter turn. Both boats had a really good course in the initial stages of the return but it looked like the USA had managed to eek out a slight lead. Could the Italian crowd lift their crew? The USA landed on the beach first and Christopher Bak had time to play to the crowds as he made his way to the buzzer to secure gold for the USA!

2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Champions: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Silver: Italy
Bronze: New Zealand

Coastal Mixed Double Sculls

Kory Rogers had literally just got out of the bronze medal winning quad and was in the USA mixed double scull in the first quarterfinal. He was perhaps paying the price slightly as Italy got the advantage on the return leg and were the first back to the beach and booked their place int he semifinal. In quarterfinal 2, Tunisia seemed to get away from the beach fastest, but then Great Britain piled on the pressure. The finish was the closest we’ve seen yet and took several minutes to review, but eventually Great Britain was confirmed as the winners. The third quarterfinal was also full of drama with Spain struggling slightly with the conditions and France getting the better and qualifying for the semifinal. Quarterfinal 4 also came down to the sprint and it was New Zealand that overcame Norway to take the final place in the semifinals.

Clearly keen for the semi not to be as close as the quarterfinal, there was a huge sprint from Great Britain earning them a length lead straight away off the beach. GB’s Laura McKenzie and Sam Scrimgeour were first around the turning buoy and heading back to the beach. While Italy made up some ground on the return leg, it wasn’t quite enough and McKenzie’s run to the beach confirmed her place in the Final A. The second semifinal was equally as competitive as France took on New Zealand and, once again, it came down to the final sprint to the line. It was New Zealand’s Matthew Dunham and Jackie Kiddle that had secured the place in the Final A, France would get to race for the bronze medal.

The conditions were really starting to get more challenging by the time of these finals causing France’s bowman Ludovic Dubuis to come off his seat briefly on the outward leg and it was Italy that went round the turning marker, but there was very little between the two boats. Italy was the first to the beach, the crowd went wild. Andrea Serafino sprinted to the line and claimed a well-earned bronze medal.

It was an absolutely flying start for Great Britain, they really had a point to prove. Both of these teams had experienced these challenging conditions already and were doing a fantastic job to handle them. It was Great Britain that were first to go round the turning marker. On the return leg, the Kiwi duo just steered the better line and managed to get themselves to the beach that little bit earlier giving them the advantage for the sprint to the line. It was gold for New Zealand and silver for Great Britain.

2023 World Rowing Beach Sprint Champions: Matthew Dunham and Jackie Kiddle, NEW ZEALAND
Silver: Laura McKenzie, Sam Scrimgeour, Great Britain
Bronze: Annalisa Cozzarini, Andrea Serafino, Italy