World Rowing Under 19 Champions crowned in St Catharines

On the last day of racing in St Catharines, Canada, new World Champions were crowned across the fourteen Under 19 boat classes. A full house in the Craig Swayze Memorial Grandstand was once again treated to a spectacular set of finals as medals were won by thirteen different nations.

U19 women’s coxed four (JW4+) – Final

USA are the reigning champions in this one but they had only come second in the preliminary race, behind Italy. While South Africa got the early advantage, Italy soon moved into the lead, and they were holding that position at 500m, marginally ahead of France. In the second half of the race, the USA were starting to get into their rhythm but Italy was looking really dominant. Italy had a lead of over eight seconds over France with 500m to go with the USA still in third, and Australia hot on their heels. Absolutely nobody could catch them, but three crews were now racing for the remaining two medals. France held on to silver and the USA managed to hold off the charge from the Australians.

Result: ITA, FRA, USA, AUS, CAN, RSA

U19 men’s coxed four (JM4+) – Final

It was a fast start from the reigning champions, Italy, but then Australia made their move and moved to the front of the field. Australia were still leading at halfway and South Africa had moved into silver medal position ahead of Italy. The Aussies had clear water with 500m to go and were looking well in control while South Africa were starting to feel the pressure from Italy – would we see that familiar sprint? The USA were also chasing hard and certainly not out of contention for a medal. Here come the Italians! They had overhauled South Africa and were event starting to put Australia under pressure. A huge final sprint from the USA had also got them into the medals with South Africa missing out.

Result: AUS, USA, ITA, RSA, IRL, CAN

U19 women’s coxless pair (JW2-) – Final A

Romania were the reigning U19 champions in this boat class with Gabriela Tivodariu returning and looking to defend her title. It was indeed Romania that got the early lead and were holding that position at 500m, over a second ahead of the AIN crew with Greece sitting in third. Romania had opened up more of a lead by halfway and Greece had moved into second place. Dimitra Papaioannou had won silver last year. Into third quarter, the AIN boat was starting to come under pressure from the German boat – could they move into the medal zone? 500m left to go and Romania was looking pretty comfortable for gold with a significant clear water advantage over Greece and Germany had moved into bronze medal position. Nobody could catch Romania, they were set to defend their title. Meanwhile, Greece held on to silver and the AIN crew had regained the bronze medal back from Germany.

Result: ROU, GRE, AIN, GER, ITA, GBR

U19 men’s coxless pair (JM2-) – Final A

The German pair of Lars Trampert and Maximilian Brill were the first to make a showing in this one and had a comfortable lead at the first timing marker ahead of Romania and Italy. Although Germany held on to the lead at halfway, the other positions had changed – Great Britain had moved into second place, pushing Romania into third. The British and Romanians had swapped places again with 500m to go, but they were so close. Germany were continuing to control the race from the front. As the crews came inside the final 250m, the noise within the grandstand was really increasing, and the field was really closing up. Romania were now putting Germany under pressure for the first time – Germany were really having to respond. Spain were coming too and perhaps overhauling Great Britain. Romania had done it! They crossed the line a tenth of a second ahead of Germany while Spain had stolen the bronze from Great Britain. What a race.

Result: ROU, GER, ESP, GBR, GRE, ITA

U19 women’s four (JW4-) – Final A

Great Britain established an early lead with New Zealand chasing them hard and held that position at 500m with Czechia sitting in third. By halfway, Great Britain was still leading with Romania now having moved into second place and Czechia was still sitting in bronze medal position. The top three crews were very close so the medals could still go any way. In the third quarter, Romania overtook Great Britain and were now starting to look really strong – they had the highest boat speed. It was looking like it was going to be a third consecutive gold for Romania while Great Britain was hold off the challenge from Czechia to maintain the silver medal.

Result: ROU, GBR, CZE, FRA, GER, NZL

U19 men’s four (JM4-) – Final A

Romania were defending champions, but surely it couldn’t be a fourth consecutive gold today? Italy had their bowball ahead but that was about all it was, ahead of Great Britain and of course, Romania were well int he mix too! Italy got to 500m first, 0.32 seconds ahead of Romania and 0.77  ahead of Great Britain. This was going to be close! Italy continued to lead, but Great Britain had moved ahead of Romania by halfway, but it was still so close. Into the third quarter, Italy had a clear water advantage over Great Britain with Romania struggling to hold onto bronze medal position after China were putting the pressure on. China had taken third place with 500m to go. Into the final sprint and the wall of noise from the grandstand. Italy was lifting the rate, the boat speed was coming up, nobody could catch them. It was gold for Italy, another silver for Great Britain and China had secured a bronze.

Result: ITA, GBR, CHN, ROU, CZE, GER

U19 women’s quadruple sculls (JW4x) – Final A

Germany are reigning champions in this boat, but had taken the long route to the final via the repechage. It was Italy and Germany leading the way in the early stages of the race – the gold and silver medallists from last year. Czechia were sitting in third place at 500m. It was unbelievably close between the top three at halfway with less than three quarters of a second separating Italy, Germany and Czechia with Great Britain just outside of the medals. However, 500m to go and Great Britain had moved into the medal zone and were already in silver medal position – they were on the charge, even starting to challenge Italy, who had led all of the way! The Italians were really having to respond to the British sprint. Wow! There was just too much work to do for Great Britain and Italy took the gold. While GB held on to the silver, there was a long delay reviewing the photo finish for the bronze – would it be Germany or Poland? The crowds were waiting… The wait felt like forever, but eventually Germany were confirmed as winning the bronze by 0.002 seconds.

Result: ITA, GBR, GER, POL, CZE, AUS

U19 men’s quadruple sculls (JM4x) – Final A

Could this race be as close as the last one? The crowd hadn’t caught their breath! Germany were quick off the blocks though and established an early lead which they held over Italy??? with Czechia in third. The positions were unchanged at halfway, but maybe the Irish would cause an upset? Last quarter of the race, Germany was continuing to lead. It looked like the gold was set, but Italy was sprinting all the way, Germany had to respond hard. Italy held on to take gold, silver for Germany and the Czech crew celebrated the bronze before they had even crossed the line – their medal was that secure!

Result: GER, ITA, CZE, IRL, NED, POL

U19 women’s double sculls (JW2x) – Final A

There was very little to separate Great Britain and Greece in the initial stages of the race. But the British, as reigning champions had established a lead of a length by 500m with Spain sitting in third place. The GB crew was looking really impressive through the second quarter of the race, opening up clear water at the front of the field. Greece still sat in second at halfway while Romania was only just holding on to bronze medal position ahead of Germany. In top the last quarter, GB were looking set for gold, but we knew Romania had a big sprint in them. What had happened to the British? Disaster for them, Greece had come through and the British were hanging on. They just managed to hold on to take silver, it was a massive upset for them, but a great result for Greece. In the sprint to the line, Spain had taken the bronze from Romania.

Result: GRE, GBR, ESP, ROU, GER, ITA

U19 men’s double sculls (JM2x) – Final A

Greece got off very fast in this one and they were the first to 500m, but only 0.01 seconds ahead of AIN with France also very close behind sitting in third place. The Greek boat, Konstantinos Giannoulis and Nikolaos Cholopoulos, was starting to look really strong by halfway now with clear water ahead of AIN but you could throw a blanket across the crews chasing the bronze medal with Italy the only crew slightly behind the field. With 500m to go Luca Free and Alexander Williams of Australia had moved into silver medal position. It looked unlikely that they’d catch Greece, but they’d need to keep the momentum all of the way to hold on to the silver medal. Greece were in control, but it was closing up for the other medals. Here came Germany – they had snuck ahead of Australia to tale the silver. What a finish!

Result: GRE, GER, AUS, AIN, FRA, AIN, ITA

U19 women’s eight (JW8+) – Final

There was so much support in the grandstand for this one All crews got away cleanly with the USA, who had dominated the preliminary race, getting the early lead. GB were defending champions though, was there anything they could do? The American eight was looking really strong opening up clear water by halfway, GB were holding silver medal position, but only just ahead of  Italy. The chants of “USA” were getting louder and louder in the stands – surely nobody could catch their crew. They were looking pretty dominant. Great Britain were still in silver medal position and Italy behind them. The medals were almost looking set coming into the final 500m. The noise was increasing. It was a dominating performance from the USA, they were uncatchable. Italy were sprinting, but they just couldn’t catch Great Britain.

Result: USA, GBR, ITA, AUT, GER, CAN

U19 men’s single sculls (JM1x) – Final A

The AIN athlete, Maksim Hrybouski was fast out of the blocks but, to the delight of his supporters, Australia’s William Rogers was hot on his heels. However, by halfway, Rogers had started to drop back. While the AIN sculler was still leading, it was now Germany’s Ole Hohensee in second and Greece’s Panagiotis Makrygiannis sat in bronze medal position. In the final quarter, it was all change! Makrygiannis had an incredible sprint and he went from third through to the front of the field. Hrybouski just couldn’t respond, he had lost the gold. Hohensee took the bronze. 

Result: GRE, AIN, GER, SUI, CAN, AUS

U19 women’s single sculls (JW1x) – Final A

The penultimate race of the Championships got underway and it was filled with talent. The reigning world U19 Champion, Bianca Ifteni of Romania was the first to make a showing with South Africa’s Daniela Price-Hughes chasing her every stroke. The top two positions remained unchanged at halfway while Germany’s Julia Stoeber had moved into bronze medal position. Ifteni was looking set to defend her title as she has lengths of clear water with 500m to go, Price-Hughes still in second and Stober in third. The field was really quite spread now, it would take quite an upset to change anything here. Ifteni was going for the line, nobody could catch her, and the other places looked set too.

Result: ROU, RSA, GER, AUT, BRA, CHN

U19 men’s eight (JM8+) – Final

The 260th and last race of the 2024 World Rowing Senior, U23 and U19 Championships got off to a flying start. Great Britain, as defending champions, worked their way into a small lead in the early stages – rating 42, the fastest across the six crews. This British crew was looking very strong establishing a three second lead already by 500m. Halfway and GB just about clear water over the USA with Germany sitting in bronze medal position. Into the third quarter, the British had got clear water. Nobody could catch them! The U19s had matched the performance of their U23s earlier in the week to take gold.

Result: GBR, USA, GER, NZL, FRA, CAN