Wednesday delivers surprises in Shanghai

A breezy crosswind forced changes to the schedule on day 4 of the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai.

The men’s double sculls semifinals were postponed to Thursday after technical issues with lane reallocations at the start, while the men’s fours semifinals took place in the afternoon followed by minor finals.

British dominance continues, China and Germany lead in doubles

Two more para-rowing events got started on Wednesday. Heat 1 of the PR2 mixed double sculls went to China’s Paralympic silver medallists Liu Shuang and Jiang Jijian, crossing well ahead of Paris 2024 bronze medallists Israel. Germany’s European champions, Jasmina Bier and Paul Umbach, won a tighter heat 2, with Ukraine taking second after a close battle with France.

It was three abreast at halfway in heat 1 of the PR3 mixed coxed fours, but the USA’s rhythm took them into a clear-water lead over China at the finish. Brazil, early leaders, slipped back into third. In heat 2, Great Britain’s dominance in this event continued with a 20-second victory over Italy. Brazil and Germany qualified for the final as the next fastest crews.

Outsiders impress in men’s singles

Lithuania’s Giedrius Bieliauskas stood out in the first men’s single sculls quarterfinal, leading through every marker and responding to the pressure from Olympic bronze medallist Simon van Dorp (Netherlands) to take the win from lane 1. Ivan Corsunov was third, making history as Moldova’s first-ever men’s single sculls semifinalist. Slovenia’s Filip-Matej Pfeifer also progressed to the semifinals from an outside lane, finishing third in the third quarterfinal behind Stefanos Ntouskos (Greece) and Bruno Cetraro (Uruguay).

Defending champion Oliver Zeidler (Germany) made light work of his quarterfinal, but Lorenz Lindorfer (Austria) stuck with him throughout to take second, followed in by Bastian Secher (Denmark). European champion and Olympic silver medallist Yauheni Zalaty (AIN) was the winner of the second quarterfinal, with Logan Ullrich (New Zealand) second and Mihai Chiruta (Romania) third.

The last time Uruguay had a men’s single sculls semifinalist was in 1990; Romania have not featured at this stage since 1994; Austria’s last competitor at this level was in 2003; and Slovenia’s in 2010.

Lithuania make history, Croatia out

The delayed men’s fours semifinals were both cracking races on immaculate water. Lithuania booked their first-ever final in this event with an exceptional row, pushing back on early leaders France and taking a length’s lead in the final 500m. France looked like they would be sprinted out of contention by Romania and New Zealand, but found an extra gear to hold off the Kiwis in the last 100m.

In the first semifinal, the Netherlands took the race out from lane 6, but Great Britain’s smooth mid-race pace left them more to play with in the last quarter and they claimed the win. The Dutch took second, while Australia were third. The USA, Croatia and Ukraine missed out – with the Sinkovic brothers denied the chance to add to their extensive World Rowing Championships medal collection.