Daily Digest: Finalists confirmed at 2025 World Rowing Under 19 Championships

Day four of the 2025 World Rowing Under 19 Championships began with the last of the minor finals. After the packed stands were treated to the “Star Race”, there was a series of semifinals, with tomorrow’s finalists being confirmed

Photo finish in Final C

The Final C of the men’s four was undoubtedly one of the most exciting races of the morning session as the photo camera came into operation. The outcome saw South Africa declared as winners, just 0.02 seconds ahead of Canada.

 Stars come out to shine

Before the semifinals got underway, spectators were treated to a race featuring five boats of Lithuanian starts, each racing over 200m. After an exciting race, the winners were Rasa Linkaitė, a photographer, with some rowing experience from many years ago, and Kamilė Kralikaitė, Paris Olympian, and one of the standout female athletes in Lithuanian rowing.

Heartbreak for French women’s pair

Despite a slow start for Uzbekistan in the first semifinal, Rayhon Sattorova and Aydana Smetullaeva came through after the first quarter to take the lead and eventually crossed the line first. Meanwhile, the race was on for the remaining two qualifying places. France had an incredible sprint but appeared to just run out of gas when Canada and Austria piled on the pressure, and they unfortunately missed out.

The second semifinal saw a dominating performance from Romania’s Teodora Lehaci and Denisa Mihaela Vasilica, who crossed the line with clear water ahead of Lithuania and South Africa.

Youngsters from Türkiye looking strong

Great Britain was the fastest off the start in semifinal 1 of the men’s pair, but eventually Australia’s Jack Hansen-Knarhoi and Lachlan Brown worked their through and took control of the race. They crossed the line first, ahead of the British, with Greece taking their third qualifying spot.

The second semi saw a very mature and well-timed race from Türkiye as Muhammed Enes Kilic and Can Yuce, who are both just sixteen years old, came through to the front of the field to cross the line with clear water ahead of Germany and Italy. We can’t wait to watch them race again in the final.

Close margins for qualifying

With just the top three from each semifinal going through the medal race, it was all to play for and the margins were particularly close in the first semifinal of the women’s four with the crowd being kept in suspense at the results were confirmed. Whilst the USA were clear leaders, and then the defending U19 champions, Romania announced as second qualifiers, it was then Poland announced as having come just ahead of Ireland.

Based on the qualifying times from the heats, eyes were on Italy and Great Britain in the second semifinal, but it was actually Germany that had the fastest start and led for the first half of the race. Italy then picked up the pace and moved to take the lead which they held ahead of the line and their sprint held off Great Britain, who took the second qualifying place with the fast-starting German crew managing to hold on to a place in the final.

GB fastest qualifying men’s four

It’s never a surprise to see a fast British men’s four and today was no exception. Although the say in second place behind Italy for the first quarter of the race, the British foursome eventually came through to take the lead and crossed the line with a comfortable lead ahead of Italy and the USA.

The second semifinal saw Germany lead from the start although they were kept under pressure all of the way by Australia, who took the second qualifying place. Meanwhile, France, who were fifth at 500m, worked their way through the field to take the third qualifying place.

Redemption for Poland?

The first semifinal of the women’s quad saw a very impressive scull from Czechia. They had the fastest start and although Germany momentarily took the lead at halfway, Czechia regained control in the second half of the race and crossed the line ahead of the German boat with Greece taking the third qualifying place.

In the second semifinal, it was Poland who led from the start. Three out of four in the Polish boat finished fourth place in this boat class at last year’s World Rowing U19 Championships so they are certainly targeting the podium this year. Their winning time of 6:36.82 compared to that of 6:35.46 clocked by Czechia suggests that they are well on track to do just that.

 European Champions challenged

There was a huge amount of support for the home crew from Lithuania in the first semifinal of the semifinal of the men’s quad, and they were the fastest off the start. However, after the first 500m, it was all change, and Germany had moved into the lead. The German continued to lead with Romania in second place, but the race for third place was fierce between Switzerland and Lithuania with the Swiss claiming the all-important spot by just 0.10 seconds.

There was a minor delay to the start of the second semifinal as Belgium dealt with equipment issues, but the race eventually got underway. Italy led from the start, despite the efforts of the reigning European U19 champions, Poland, who took the second qualifying place. Meanwhile, Slovenia, who had sat in fourth for the first half of the race, came through to claim the third qualifying place.

Lykomitrou looking to add to her CV

The Greek sculler Varvara Lykomitrou already has an extensive rowing CV having become World U19 Champion in the double last year, European Rowing U19 champion in the single sculls earlier this year, and World Rowing U23 champion in the double just a few weeks ago, but she’s now on track to add even more to that, having qualified fastest for the final.

It was Spain’s Esther Fuerte Chacon that won the first semifinal with Lithuania and Ukraine also qualifying whilst China and Austria finished behind the Greek in the second semifinal. Tomorrow’s final is likely to be close!

Men’s single scullers wrap up the day with sprint finishes

Germany’s Mads Schmied was the first to qualify for tomorrow’s men’s single sculls final after he crossed the line at the front of the field in the first semifinal. Meanwhile, Norway’s Raphael Arkadiusz Pintsch, who had sat in fourth for more than half of the race, moved into cross the line second with the American sculler Michael Madigan taking the all-important third qualifying place. Meanwhile, there was plenty of drama in the second semifinal.

Uzbekistan’s Jamalbek Turgunov, who is making his international debut, caught everyone by surprise and led the race from the start to cross the line first. However, the race was behind him! Whilst this year’s European U19 Champion Paul Schinnerl of Austria held on to second place, Hungary’s Barnabas Botund Kup had an incredible sprint up his sleeve and, at 42 strokes per minute, overhauled the British sculler in the closing stages to secure his place in the final.

Changes for tomorrow. 

All medals will be awarded tomorrow, Sunday 10 August. The day will start with all of the B Finals, before moving onto the medal races. Due to forecast adverse weather, there has been a change to the schedule with racing now scheduled to start at 09:00 and the medal races from 10:00.