2026 World Rowing Under 23 Championships: Crews to Watch

More than 600 of the world’s best young rowers, representing 49 nations, will travel to Duisburg, Germany, for the 2026 World Rowing Under 23 Championships between 23-26 July 2026.

Reigning champions will line up against those making their international debuts: here are the crews to watch.

Under 23 Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (BLW1x)

11 entries

The entries for the lightweight women’s single sculls are headlined by reigning under 23 world champion, Italy’s Melissa Schincariol – who is still only 19 years old. Nathalie Sendjuk (GER) was also a medallist in the lightweight double sculls last year, and could again challenge for the podium.

Under 23 Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (BLM1x)

18 entries

The only medallist returning from the 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships in the lightweight men’s single sculls is bronze medallist Luca Borgonovo (ITA), who also picked up silver at the 2025 European Rowing Under 23 Championships. However, Borgonovo is likely to face stiff competition from the likes of 2026 World Rowing Cup I winner Joao Veloso (POR) and Alexandr Matronitchi (MDA).

Under 23 Women’s Single Sculls (BW1x)

20 entries

Varvara (‘Valia’) Lykomitrou (GRE) ended the 2025 season as a double world champion in the under 23 women’s double sculls and junior single sculls; this year, she is looking to add the under 23 single sculls title to her list of achievements. Lykomitrou comes off an impressive freshman year at Yale University, where she rowed in the varsity eight. But several other scullers also have junior or under 23 world medals already, including Ella Boldisova (CZE), Esther Fuerte (ESP) and Paula Lutz (GER), while Bianca-Camelia Ifteni (ROU) finished 11th at World Rowing Cup I in Seville.

Under 23 Men’s Single Sculls (BM1x)

25 entries

Defending champion Cevdet Ege Mutlu became the first Turkish athlete to win the under 23 men’s single sculls last year, and is looking for a second title in Duisburg. Another 12 scullers also return in this boat class, including 2025 bronze medallist Diogo Goncalves (POR), who has had a successful World Rowing Cup season including seventh place in Seville in May, and Marco Selva (ITA), who beat Mutlu to the European under 23 title last year.

Under 23 Women’s Pair (BW2-)

17 entries

There will be a full set of first-time medallists in the under 23 women’s pair, with none of last year’s successful crews back in 2026. Indeed the only unchanged crew is Lithuania (Ula Jonusaite and Ugne Rudaiyte), who were sixth in Poznan. Ekaterina Guseva and Elena Lushina (AIN) have raced the World Rowing Cup circuit this year, finishing eighth at World Rowing Cup I and 12th at World Rowing Cup III. But this is a wide-open event with lots of chances for young faces to make a splash on their debuts.

Under 23 Men’s Pair (BM2-)

18 entries

The most established crew in the under 23 men’s pair is Greece’s Alexandros Chatziavgoustidis and Andreas Bourkas: sixth at the 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships, third at the 2025 World Rowing Under 19 Championships, and seventh at the 2025 European Rowing Under 23 Championships. Bourkas also impressed at 2026 World Rowing Cup III with fifth overall. Junior silver medallists Jack Hansen-Knarhoi and Lachlan Brown (AUS) are also stepping up to the under 23 category this year.

Under 23 Women’s Double Sculls (BW2x)

15 entries

Can Dimitra Kontou win another gold medal? The Greek sculler is already a three-time under 23 world champion, and returns to defend her double sculls title – this time alongside junior double sculls champion Eleni Diavati. But last year’s silver medallists, Anna Khlibenko and Julia Rogiewicz (POL) will hope to dethrone the Greeks.

Under 23 Men’s Double Sculls (BM2x)

24 entries

A big entry in the under 23 men’s double sculls promises an exciting event. Reigning under 23 champions Josef Giorgio Marvucic and Marco Prati (ITA) will go head-to-head against reigning junior champions Jonah Kirby and Jack Rafferty (IRL). Portuguese duo Pedro Rodrigues and Tomas Neves, second at the 2025 European Rowing Under 23 Championships, and Henley Royal Regatta semifinalists this year, will also expect to be in the mix for medals.

Under 23 Women’s Four (BW4-)

15 entries

Only Austria’s under 23 women’s four has competed internationally as a unit this season, finishing sixth at World Rowing Cup II, and arguably have among the most consistency in the field in terms of rowing together. The Netherlands are stroked by 2025 under 23 women’s pair champion Elisabeth Boone, and Romania have brought back two under 23 women’s four silver medallists. The Netherlands and Great Britain raced each other at Henley Royal Regatta, with the Dutch lifting the Town Challenge Cup after the British crew were disqualified for steering into their opponents.

Under 23 Men’s Four (BM4-)

16 entries

The under 23 men’s four is set up for close racing. Great Britain field three 2025 under 23 men’s eight champions, and won the Visitors’ Challenge Cup at Henley Royal Regatta a couple of weeks ago. China were lightning fast at World Rowing Cup II, where they beat Romania for gold. But there is plenty of experience too across the rest of the field at under 23 and junior level.

Under 23 Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls (BLW2x)

4 entries

Defending champions Greece (Paschalina Mouratidou and Gavriela Lioliou) enter as favourites for the lightweight women’s double sculls, despite Lioliou doubling up in the lightweight women’s single sculls. Rose Gallen (FRA) won silver last year, and is back to see if she can improve on that with new partner Elena Chevrier da Costa.

Under 23 Lightweight Men’s Double Sculls (LM2x)

7 entries

Four of last year’s six medallists return for the lightweight men’s double sculls, including both silver medallists from Germany, Naveen Shah and Maximilian Ruehling. It will be fascinating to see if Italy’s Tito Christoforakis can replicate last year’s gold-medal winning success with new partner, Niccolo’ Gandola.

Under 23 Women’s Quadruple Sculls (BW4x)

7 entries

Olivia Cheesmur is the only survivor from last year’s women’s quadruple sculls champions of Great Britain, despite being the youngest in the crew. The defending champions’ chief rivals look likely to be Poland, with three 2025 bronze medallists on board; Italy have also gone for consistency with three of the crew which came fourth in Poznan back for another shot at a medal.

Under 23 Men’s Quadruple Sculls (BM4x)

18 entries

A large and quality entry will line up in the under 23 men’s quadruple sculls, including 12 athletes who raced in last year’s final. Czechia are reigning champions, and 3-seat Miroslav Vokalek is leading their title defence; they were fourth at World Rowing Cup II this season. AIN2 were fourth at World Rowing Cup III and could be medal contenders in Duisburg if they retain that form, and Poland finished eighth at World Rowing Cup I.

Under 23 Women’s Eight (BW8+)

6 entries

Four under 23 world champions will race for Great Britain in the women’s eight – two from last year’s eight, and two from the 2025 women’s four. That arguably gives Britain the pre-regatta edge over the likes of 2025 silver medallists USA, with one returner. Germany also have some world championship experience on board, including 2025 under 23 women’s quadruple sculls silver medallist Lanea Estelle Rueter who has switched to sweep for this season.

Under 23 Men’s Eight (BM8+)

9 entries

Great Britain have won the under 23 men’s eights for the previous six years and will not be letting go of their title lightly. This year’s crew is entirely new, with relatively little international experience, although coxswain Natalia Toms and stroke Osian James together won the junior men’s eight at the 2023 World Rowing Under 19 Championships. There is more consistency elsewhere in the field, with Czechia notably bringing back seven of their 2025 European Rowing Under 23 silver medallists.

Under 23 Mixed Eight (BMix8+)

6 entries

The mixed eight makes its under 23 debut this year, attracting six entries. Several members of the Romanian crew won the mixed eight at the 2025 European Rowing Under 23 Championships, and will be endeavouring to replicate the success of their senior crew in Shanghai last year.

Under 23 Mixed Double Sculls (BMix2x)

10 entries

Greece, with Olympic medallist Dimitra Kontou on board, are likely to be a threat in the inaugural under 23 mixed double sculls event. Both Germans, Yannik Sens and Charlotte Luster, also won medals in Poznan last year. Ireland have teamed up junior world champion Jonah Kirby with Holly Davis, sixth in the women’s single sculls in 2025, while Italy’s pairing of under 23 men’s double sculls champion Marco Prati with Noemi de Vincenzi is also likely to be fast.

PR3 Under 23 Women’s Single Sculls (PR3 BW1x)

3 entries

All three athletes in the PR3 women’s single sculls are making their under 23 world championships debuts, but Rocio Fraguela (ESP) and Dinara Belyanina (UZB) both raced at the senior world championships in Shanghai. Both Belyanina and Susannah Lutze (AUS) have won medals on the World Rowing Cup circuit this season: Belyanina in the PR3 mixed double sculls at World Rowing Cup II, and Lutze in both the PR3 mixed coxed four and PR3 women’s pair at World Rowing Cup III.

PR3 Under 23 Men’s Single Sculls (PR3 BM1x)

5 entries

Sam Stunell (AUS) comes to Duisburg as defending champion in the PR3 men’s single sculls after winning the maiden running of this event last year. Stunell also won bronze in the PR3 mixed double sculls at the 2025 World Rowing Championships in Shanghai and at World Rowing Cup III this year. His opponents include two 16-year-olds. Erwan Chamouleau (FRA) is the youngest athlete in Duisburg, making his international debut; Akbarali Abduvaliev (UZB) won the PR3 mixed double sculls at 2026 World Rowing Cup II.