Rowers to Watch: 2024 World Rowing Senior Championships, St Catharines, Canada

In the last of our three previews ahead of the combined World Rowing Championships taking place on the historic Royal Canadian Henley Rowing Course in St Catharines, Canada, today we look at the senior events. With the Paris Olympic Games having only just concluded, and the Paralympic Games already in sight, this event is for the non-Olympic and non-Paralympic boat classes, of which six will be contested. Here’s our picks on the ones to watch:

Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x)

With 25 entries, this is by far the biggest of the senior events, and no fewer than 7 of them have come straight from Paris, with two of them having picked up Olympic medals! Romania’s Ionela Cozmiuc and Greece’s Zoi Fitsiou raced against each other in the final of the lightweight women’s double sculls in Paris taking silver and bronze respectively (behind Great Britain), and they will go head-to-head again in Paris, but in the single sculls. Three other competitors from the lightweight double sculls in Paris will join the field. Keep an eye also on Ireland’s Siobhan McCrohan who is the reigning World Champion in this boat class and took gold at World Rowing Cup II earlier this season. Gold at the first and third World Cups was claimed by Olivia Bates (Great Britain) and Aurelie Morizot (France) both of whom travel to Canada so will certainly be worth keeping an eye on!

 Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x)

Another packed field! The entry of 22 scullers includes six Paris Olympians including two medalists – one of which is a two-time Olympic Champion! Ireland’s Paul O’Donovan defended his title in the lightweight double scull in Paris (with Fintan McCarthy) but will come to Canada to race the single scull, and has to be one of the favourites! Greece’s Antonios Papakonstantinou, who took bronze behind O’Donovan in Paris is likely to be one of the main challengers with the third spot on the podium up for grabs.

Hin Chun Chiu of Hong Kong China made his mark at World Rowing Cup II in Lucerne this year winning gold in the lightweight men’s single sculls and has remained in the single scull having raced openweight in Paris. Don’t overlook Niels Torre of Italy, either. Torre won silver in this boat class at last year’s World Rowing Championships and is also reigning European Champion.

Lightweight Women’s Coxless Pairs (LW2-)

Just three boats will contest this boat class. Peru’s Palacios twins, Valeria and Alessia raced in the lightweight double scull in Paris, finishing 14th, and will now move back into the pair – the boat that they won World U23 silver in back in 2022. Meanwhile, there’s plenty of experience in the Polish boat too.

Lightweight Men’s Coxless Pairs (LM2-)

Of the five boats entered, it is Moldova with the most experience. Nichita Naumciuc and Dimitrii Zincenco took bronze in this boat class at last year’s World Rowing Championships, and the same colour medal at the European Rowing Championships earlier this year. Can they improve on that in Canada? They’re likely to face competition from Austria’s Konrad Hultsch and Paul Ruttmann who beat them at the Europeans earlier this year, taking gold.

Lightweight Men’s Quadruple Sculls (LM4x)

This boat class has attracted four entries including the silver and bronze medal winning nations from last year. The German boat, which took silver, has two returning members and so does the crew from the USA, who won bronze in 2023. However, it is the Mexicans that have the most international racing experience so far this season, with one of their crew, Miguel Carballo Nieto, having raced in the lightweight double scull at the Paris Olympic Games just a couple of weeks ago.

PR3 Men’s Coxless Pairs (PR3 M2-)

It’s just Italy versus Japan in this boat class. Luca Conti of Italy has plenty of experience in other boats including the PR3 mixed four and the PR3 double scull, and will now join forces with Igor Zappa. For Japan, Toshihiro Nishioka has Paralympic Games experienced in the mixed four so it will also be interesting to see what he can transfer to the coxless pair.