Thrilling Finals conclude World Rowing Under 19 Championships

After a block of B Finals, it was all about the medals on the final day of the 2025 World Rowing U19 Championships in Trakai, Lithuania. With photo finishes, and medal places being exchanged throughout races, spectators were treated to a thrilling series of medal finals.

U19 women’s pair (JW2-)

 It was a good start for Canada but Romania and Austria were staying with them in the early stages. By 500m all six crews were still overlapping with Canada holding their lead over the defending champions, Romania. By halfway, Romania had moved into the lead, ahead of Canada whilst Uzbekistan had put themselves into medal contention. Into the final quarter of the race, Teodora Lehaci and Denisa Mihaela Vasilica were really starting to open up an impressive lead, establishing clear water whilst Uzbekistan had moved into silver medal position with Canada sitting in third. Uzbekistan were really starting to pile the pressure on in the closing stages, but the Romanians maintained control and became the first gold medalists of the Championships.

Result: ROU, UZB, CAN, AUT, LTU, RSA

Final B: Despite an incredible final sprint from France, Germany held on the lead which they had established from the start, to cross the line first and claim seventh overall.

U19 men’s pair (JM2-)

The Greeks flew off the start in the medal final with the highest rating but it was Australia that established the early lead ahead of Great Britain. Australia still held the lead at 500m, but only 0.02 ahead of Great Britain. This was going to be close! Germany were sat in the bronze medal position, but could the Italians do anything? The positions remained unchanged at halfway – all of the top three crews with a similar boat speed. Into the final stages of the lead, the British took the lead! Could Australia respond? Meanwhile, Greece had moved into bronze medal position. What a race! The British almost looked to run out of steam in the final strokes but they just managed to hold on to the lead ahead of Australia, whilst Greece had held off Germany for the bronze.

Result: GBR, AUS, GRE, GER, ITA, TUR

Final B: It had been a surprise to see this year’s European Champions Serbia in the Final B, so it was not a surprise to see them take early control of the race and lead all of the way.

U19 women’s four (JW4-)

Great Britain and Germany went out of the start together, with the British crew establishing a narrow lead at 500m with the USA in third, narrowly ahead of Italy. The impressive looking Great Britain crew still held the lead at halfway but there was still five crews in the mix for the medals with perhaps Poland the only crew slightly off the pace. Into the third quarter, the USA crew was really starting to challenge the British crew and eventually the Americans moved into the lead and the British were really going to have to work hard to reclaim gold medal position. It was all closing up in the final stages. The British just didn’t quite have enough, what a final quarter from the Americans to become World U19 Champions. Meanwhile, Italy had claimed the bronze.

Result: USA, GBR, ITA, ROU, GER, POL

Final B: The Irish momentarily held the lead at halfway but Croatia soon came back and crossed the line first to win the Final B.

U19 men’s four (JM4-)

 The USA flew off the start at 53 strokes per minute with Italy at 52 and that high stroke rate allowed Italy to take the initial lead but Great Britain was going with them. At the first timing marker, the Italians made another push and had a 0.59 second lead over the British with the Germans in bronze medal position. The Italians still sat at 42 strokes per minute and were trading places at the front with the British every single stroke. Into the third quarter of the race, the boat speed of the Italians appeared to drop and the strong looking British crew took advantage and stared to establish a strong lead. Could Germany sneak into silver medal position? The Italians started to sprint, but there was no way they could catch the British now, who had a massive clear water advantage. Italy held on to silver.

Result: GBR, ITA, GER, USA, AUS, FRA

Final B: Another boat class which saw the current European Champions, Romania racing the Final B. However, it was Turkiye that led from the start to claim 7th place.

U19 women’s quadruple sculls (JW4x)

Great Britain got off to a very good start getting their bow narrowly ahead in lane 1 although Czechia, the fastest qualifying boat from the semifinals, were challenging straight away. The British were leading Czechia by 0.02 seconds at 500m with Poland also well in the mix. Into the second quarter, the three front crews were exchanging the lead every single stroke, there was no obvious leader. However, after the 1,000m, Poland had established a slight lead with Great Britain then sat ahead of Czechia. Three boats still in contention for one gold medal. However, in the final quarter, Germany had come into the mix too! Poland had claimed the victory and then there was a very long wait as the photo finish was analysed. It was eventually announced that Czechia had got the silver medal with Great Britain the bronze – in exactly the same time! Germany had just missed out, despite an incredible sprint.

Result: POL, CZE, GBR, GER, ROU, GRE

Final B: Italy and New Zealand traded places at the front of the field in this one, but the Kiwis made the best of the final sprint to cross the line first.

U19 men’s quadruple sculls (JM4x)

All six crews were overlapping at 500m with Italy leading, the reigning World U19 champions ahead of Germany and Poland sat in bronze medal position. At 1,000m, Germany made a decisive move and the crew, who were making their international debut moved into the lead with Switzerland having crept ahead of Poland. This was going to be another close one! 500m to go and Germany were now looking strong, but the other places definitely weren’t set yet. Into the final sprint and Germany were looking comfortable for gold, but the silver medal was still up for grabs. The Italians started to sprint, Switzerland was going with them, whilst Poland had slipped right back.  There was huge celebrations on the line from all three medal-winning crews.

Result: GER, ITA, SUI, ROU, POL, SLO

Final B: They were 11th overall at the European U19 Championships this year but it was 7th overall for Ireland today, despite a fast start from France who took the initial lead.

U19 women’s double sculls (JW2x)

Greece and Poland had the best move off the start with Germany also going with them. Ireland was the only boat slightly off the pace. By half way, it was looking like it was down to four crews racing for the three medals. Greece were looking in strong position at the front with Great Britain sitting in silver medal position and then Poland and Germany fighting for bronze. Approaching 500m to go, and the field was starting to open up with Greece holding onto the lead although Great Britain, with plenty of experience in the boat, were continuing to surge. The Greeks were looking untouchable and Great Britain was looking set for silver so all eyes were on the race for bronze. There was disaster in the Poland boat which allowed Germany to come through and claim the bronze.

Result: GRE, GBR, GER, HUN, IRL, POL

Final B: The young Belgian crew of Martyna Brzoska and Eleonore Moons secured the win in the Final B despite a familiar and impressive final sprint from the Italian crew.

U19 men’s double sculls (JM2x)

With Hungary having withdrawn shortly ahead of the race for medical reasons, there was just five boats racing for the medals. Germany were just ahead of Ireland and Greece in the very initial stages of the race and then the lead changed a few times with Ireland eventually moving to the front of the field, but the Greek crew was staying in touch. By halfway, Ireland had started to move into a strong position ahead of Greece with Germany sat in bronze medal position and looking relatively comfortable. With 500m to go, the Irish duo now had a clear-water advantage over the reigning U19 Champions form Greece. Jonah Kirby and Jack Rafferty of Ireland continued to open up even more clear water over the Greeks in the final quarter of the race, and Germany took the bronze.

Result: IRL, GRE, GER,  ITA, NED, HUN

Final B: Switzerland seemed to time their race to perfection – although Bulgaria had led for most of the way, the Swiss came through to claim 7th place and New Zealand managed to sneak ahead of Bulgaria also.

U19 women’s eight (JW8+)

The preliminary race earlier in the Championships had suggested that this was going to be a close one. Off at 45 strokes per minute, the British went off hard to try and sneak an early lead, but there was nothing between all six crews. By 500m, Australia had taken the lead, but only by 0.16 seconds ahead of Great Britain with Germany in third. Into the second quarter, Great Britain and Australia were exchanging the lead every single stroke. Australia still holding prime position at halfway, but only just. The lead had changed again with 500m to go with Great Britain now leading, but everyone was watching for the USA boat which had very high boat speed and were working their way through the field – what could the defending champions do? Into the final sprint, the Americans were now piling the pressure onto the British and Romania had moved into bronze medal position. What an epic race! The British were winding up for the line, they opened up a lead and nobody could catch them. Meanwhile, an epic second half from the USA had secured them the silver with Romania claiming bronze.

Result: GBR, USA, ROU, ITA, GER, AUS

U19 men’s single sculls (JM1x)

 Germany and Uzbekistan led the race out from the start with Germany’s Mads Schmied narrowly leading Uzbekistan’s Jamalbek Turgunov at 500m with Austria’s Paul Schinnerl sitting in third. Schmied started to open up the smallest of amounts of clear water approaching 1,000m Schmied was starting to look comfortable in the third quarter, but the race for silver was on between Turgunov and Schinnerl with then a gap back to the remaining scullers. There was absolutely no catching Schmied, he had several lengths of clear water and claimed the title of World U19 Champion. Meanwhile, Turgunov had held off Schinnerl for the silver.

Result: GER, UZB, AUT, HUN, USA, NOR

Final B: The Swiss sculler, Sebastiano Wicki led this one from the start to claim seventh place overall whilst the British competitor, Joseph Wellington worked his way through from fourth at 1,000m to take second place and eighth overall.

U19 women’s single sculls (JW1x)

It had been the biggest boat class of the Championships, but Greek and Spain were the standout scullers in the earlier rounds, so it was expected to be close between them. Spain’s Esther Fuerte Chacon had the early lead though. However, by halfway, Varvara Lykomitrou was starting to make her move and trying to close the lead that Fuerte Chacon had established, whilst Maria Hauser of Austria was sitting in bronze medal position. The Greek sculler had established the lead, but it was oh still so close! Lykomitrou then made her move and started to wind up towards the line creating a clear water advantage over her Spanish opposition. Fuerte Chacon took the silver whilst Hauser secured the bronze.

Result: GRE, ESP, AUT, CHN, LTU, UKR

Final B: Latvia’s Evija Freimane had a fast start but seemed to fade in the second half of the race which allowed Faye Louise Lange of Norway to come through and take the win.

U19 men’s eight (JM8+)

After a flying start, the reigning Champions, Great Britain established the first lead but the Czech crew was hot on their heels, just 0.36 seconds behind at 500m. Romania and Germany were trading places for third. At halfway, GB was still just holding on to the lead over Czechia, but we knew that the Czech boat would likely still have more to come. Into the final quarter and the British had the highest boat speed and were starting to open up more of a lead over Czechia. Meanwhile, the race for bronze was still on between Romania and Germany.  Approaching the line, the British men’s eight had established a length lead and were looking certain to become World Champions.  Czechia claimed the silver and Germany had overcome Romania to take bronze.

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

Final B: There may have only been three boats in the Final B, but it was a great race with overlap between all of the boats, Austria claiming the win.