Ten moments that were Rowing in 2024

2024 was quite the year for Rowing. Here are some of our standout moments:

Ahead of 2023, no nation had ever won the senior, under 23 and under 19 world titles in the men’s eights at the world level in the same year. Great Britain made history when they completed the feat in 2023, and went one better in 2024: Winning the World titles at the Under 23 and Under 19 levels, as well as the Olympic title.

What could be better than finishing on the podium after competing at the European Rowing Championships? Perhaps also making a promise to the love of your life… After crossing the line in third in the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls at the 2024 European Rowing Championships, Stanislav Samoliuk got down on one knee on the podium and proposed to his rowing and life partner, Dariia Kotyk, who said YES!

There are some race courses that are known for their speed. That being said, it still takes an incredibly powerful rower or crew to come close to a World Best Time in ideal conditions. Germany’s Alexandra Foester did just that – setting a new World Rowing Under 23 Championship best time in 7:13.69. To put that into perspective, only one person has gone faster than that at the senior level in the past 10 years at World Rowing events.

Just a few weeks after successfully defending his Olympic title in the Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls, Paul O’Donovan headed over to St Catharines, Canada, to compete at the 2024 World Rowing Senior, Under 23 & Under 19 Championships. He competed in the Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls, winning gold, and adding a 7th World Championship title to his career.

She really is the Greatest Of All Time – Great Britain’s Lauren Rowles became the most decorated Paralympic Rower of all time when she crossed the line in first with partner Gregg Stevenson in the PR2 Mixed Double Sculls at the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. Rowles now holds 3 Paralympic medals – all gold – in Para Rowing.

The Paris 2024 Paralympic Games marked the debut for the PR3 Mixed Double Sculls, bringing the Paralympic Rowing boat classes up to a total of five. The podium was topped by the reigning World Champions – Nikki Ayers and Jed Altschwager of Australia – and completed by Great Britain and Germany.

2024 was quite a year for the Florijn family – both Karolien Florijn and Finn Florijn, the older of the Florijn siblings, went undefeated in the classic rowing season, capping it off with Olympic Gold just 3 days apart. Karolien in the Women’s Single Sculls, and Finn in the Men’s Quadruple Sculls. Their season continued in coastal rowing, where they were joined by their younger brother, Beer. All three took away medals from the World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals and World Rowing Coastal Championships!

With Beach Sprint Rowing set to make its Olympic debut in four years’ time, the 2024 World Rowing Beach Sprint Finals attracted a record entry of over 400 athletes from 51 nations. 

The World Rowing Masters Regatta celebrated its 50th edition of the competition in 2024, which was held in Brandenburg, Germany. The regatta drew in participants from over 50 countries and 723 different clubs – the second-highest country representation at a Masters regatta. From seasoned athletes to those making their debut on the world stage, the regatta celebrates diversity in both age and experience. Among the competitors were former Olympians eager to reconnect with the sport in a more relaxed setting.

There was Redgrave and Pinsent. There was Murray and Bond. There is, now, Martin and Valent Sinkovic. With three Olympic gold medals, and four Olympic medals overall, the Sinkovic Brothers are in rare air, after successfully defending their Olympic title in the men’s pair, in what was by popular opinion the best race of the Olympic regatta. With their three Olympic gold medals – and 55 International medals overall – they have now reached the status of Rowing legends. Oh, and they are the most decorated Croatian summer Olympians – ever. Having already announced that they would continue until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, the “Sinkobros” are above all, an inspiration for all rowers in the World. Hvala!