Six senior World Championship titles awarded

World Championship titles were awarded in the six senior categories in St Catharines, Canada today. The six sizzling finals saw some new World Championship Best Times, and a little bit of history.

PR3 men’s coxless pair (PR3 M2-) – Final 

With just two crews entered, it was a race for the single medal. Italy got off to a cracking start. Luca Conti and Igor Zappa were looking really impressive ahead of Japan’s Toshihiro Nishoka and Yuta Sakaguchi. With 500m to go, the Italians had opened up a significant lead and barring any disaster, it looked like the gold was set. They became the first Senior World Champions of 2024!

Result: ITA, JPN

Lightweight women’s single sculls (LW1x) – Final A

This final was full of talent with three rowers who were straight off the back of the Paris Olympic Games – including a silver and bronze medalist, plus the reigning World Champion from Ireland. Romania’s Ionela Cozmiuc crossed the 500m marker first narrowly ahead of France’s Aurelia Morizot, just 0.69 seconds behind and Mexico’s Kenia Lechuga, sat in third. By halfway, Cozmiuc was continuing to lead but the reigning World Champion, Ireland’s Siobhan McCrohan had moved into second place, with Greece’s Zoi Fitsiou now in third – it was all change! Fitsiou continued to work her through the field an eventually overtook McCrohan too. The Irish sculler wouldn’t be defending her title, but it was a fantastic finish to the career for Cozmiuc who had announced at the Paris Olympic Games that this would be her last international race.

Result: ROU, GRE, IRL, MEX, FRA, AUT

Lightweight men’s single sculls (LM1x) – Final A

Another field that was absolutely stacked! Three Paris Olympians including an Olympic Champion plus Italy’s Niels Torre who had set a new World Championship Best Time earlier in the week. It was Greece’s Antonios Papakonstantinou that was first to the 500m but all five of the other scullers were within less than a second. By halfway, the field had opened up slightly. Papakonstantinou was continuing to lead and the double Olympic Champion Paul O’Donovan had moved into second place and the American sculler, Samuel Melvin in bronze medal position – but it was far too early to call! 500m to go and O’Donovan had moved into the lead! Was the Greek sculler going to let him get away with this?  There was nothing he could do, O’Donovan was running away with it – he was becoming World Champion just a few weeks after he had become Olympic Champion. What an performance from the Irishman.

Result: IRL, GRE, ITA, USA, AUT, MEX

Lightweight women’s coxless pair (LW2-) – Final

Three crews were racing for just two sets of medals. Poland had comfortably won the preliminary race, but how would the final play out. It was indeed Jessika Sobocinska and Katarzyna Welna that took the early advantage, but not by much. Peru’s Palacios sisters, Alessia and Valeria were just 0.74 seconds behind. Into the second quarter, Poland started to extend their lead, moving to a length lead over Peru. The Polish were setting a fantastic rhythm at 38 strokes per minute and were looking really comfortable. It looked like it would be Canada that would be the single crew to miss out on a medal. Despite the attempts of the local supporters, there was nothing they could do to lift their crew. Poland took the gold and Peru the silver.

Result: POL, PER, CAN

Lightweight men’s coxless pair (LM2-) – Final

Austria had won by stacks of clear water in the preliminary race and it was them that got out first in this final – Konrad Hultsch and Paul Ruttmann established an early lead and just kept on opening up more of an advantage. At halfway with Austria clear in the lead, Moldova were sat in second and Paraguay was just holding off Thailand for third place. There was no catching Austria, they were in a race of their own and they crossed the line to take gold. While silver was relatively comfortable for Matias Ramierz and Alberto Portillo, the Moldovans, Nichita Naumciuc and Dmitrii Zinceno beat Thailand to the bronze by just 0.15 seconds.

Result: AUT, PAR, MDA, THA, GEO

Lightweight men’s quadruple sculls (LM4x) – Final

Germany had been the fastest in the preliminary race and while they were quick off the start today, it was the USA that went with them and got out in front first. The Americans past 500m first but Germany was just 0.08 seconds behind. Germany took the lead at halfway, but through the middle half of the race, Mexico were starting to make their move and eventually overhauled Germany, and then the USA too! Despite only four crews, this was a real close one up the front of the field with only Denmark out of the race for medals. What an incredible sprint between Mexico and the USA. Mexico had just done enough – they had become World Champions by just 0.35 seconds over the USA, achieving the first ever World Championship title for them.

Result: MEX, USA, GER, DEN

Racing in St Catharines concludes tomorrow with the finals in the U19 boat classes.