Reigning Champions highlight 2024 World Rowing Versa Challenge participants

Elizabeth Gilmore of the USA and Joel Naukkarinen of Finland will defend their respective titles as Versa Champions, at the 2024 World Rowing Indoor Championships, presented by Concept 2, in Prague, Czechia.

The first-ever winners of the Versa Challenge, the multi-challenge competition format introduced by World Rowing last year in Canada, will look to retain their position as top overall indoor rowers.

Ten men and ten women have qualified in advance to compete in the Versa Challenge in Prague on 23-24 February 2024, at the O2 Universum Hall. Both Naukkarinen and Gilmore finished as top men and women qualifiers for the Versa.

On the men’s side, the competition promises to be fierce with top indoor rowers joining the party this year. Cameron Buchan of Great Britain qualified right behind Naukkarinen and is a force on the erg – so is Andrew Tomlinson of New Zealand, who already won multiple world medals in the discipline. Maciej Zawojski (POL) is a regular among all three rowing disciplines (indoor, classic and coastal) at the elite level, and he and Zach Fowle (USA) will be competing at their second Versa Challenge after finishing respectively third and fourth last year.

On the women’s side, last year’s competition was incredibly close, with Gilmore winning the Versa Challenge by one point ahead of Anna Muehle (GER) and Charlotte Dixon (GBR). Dixon, Muehle, but also Morgan McGrath (USA), Nicola Goss (NZL) and Sarah Pidgen (CAN) will all be looking to avenge last year’s defeat. There will be four newcomers on the Versa stage – and watch out for Lina Bélanger of Canada, who qualified second behind Gilmore.

The Versa was created to offer competitors a unique competition opportunity which cannot be replicated at home, and allows for several race opportunities during one event. Additionally, it features an element of uncertainty and variability which is exciting for both spectators and competitors, and allows indoor rowing competitions to expand beyond more traditional formats.

The Versa will test all the skills and strengths required of indoor rowers, exposing them to new and unfamiliar race formats. Competitors may or may not be informed about the race formats in advance of the WRICH, and should train to be prepared for any challenge. The five events of the Versa Challenge will be interspersed with all the other events over the weekend.

List of participants : Men

Joel Naukkarinen (FIN)

Cameron Buchan (GBR)

Andrew Tomlinson (NZL)

Zach Fowle (USA)

Andres Meskestad Jacobsen (NOR)

Maciej Zawojski (POL)

Bryan Bunch (USA)

Dylan Dragswiek (USA)

Matthew Seaby (CAN)

Cedric Leroy (FRA)

List of participants : Women

Elizabeth Gilmore (USA)

Lina Bélanger (CAN)

Morgan McGrath (USA)

Ella Fox (USA)

Anna Muehle (GER)

Taryn Sharp (AUS)

Marsha Coniglio (USA)

Charlotte Dixon (GBR)

Nicola Goss (NZL)

Sarah Pidgen (CAN)