New European Champions and Best Times in Varese

Day two of the 2026 European Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy saw the first 13 of our new European Champions be crowned. Warm waters and a tail wind provided fast racing conditions enabling several new European Championships Best Times to be set.

Final: PR2 Mixed Double Scull (PR2 Mix2x)

Kicking off the medal finals, five boats were racing for three medals. It was oh-so-close in the early stages of the race, but moving into the second half, the field started to spread with Germany establishing a lead over Ukraine and Israel sitting in bronze medal position at halfway. To the disappointment of the local supporters, it was only Italy slightly off the pace. In the final stages of the race, the Ukrainians had an incredible final sprint, but it just wasn’t quite enough to steal the gold from Germany. Ukraine seemed delighted with their silver and Israel taking the bronze

Result: GER, UKR, ISR, FRA, ITA

Final: Women’s Pair (W2-)

Lithuania bolted out of the blocks and took a canvas lead on the field but then slid back into the pack, allowing Romania to take the lead – they were surely the ones to beat! By halfway, the strong Romanian duo continued to lead with Italy and Czechia also in the medal mix and then a small gap back to the rest of the field. Into the third quarter, Romania looked pretty comfortable as the noise from the Italian supporters began to increase. Nobody could catch Adam and Radis; it was gold for Romania, with Czechia claiming the silver ahead of the home crew from Italy. Romania’s time set a new European Championships Best Time!

Result: ROU, CZE, ITA, GER, LTU, SUI

Final A: Men’s Pair (M2-)

Could the Romanian men’s pair match their women’s result? They were going to face fierce opposition from Italy and Greece in particular. It was certainly Romania that took the early lead with Lithuania’s Stankunas brothers sitting in second place at 500m. A strong tailwind was providing fast conditions. Romania had extended their lead at the halfway mark and looked in a strong position but it was all to play for for silver and bronze. Nobody could catch the Romanians; Stefan Constantin Berariu and Florin Sorin Lehaci matched the gold won by their women in the previous race. Lithuania held on to silver, and Italy took another bronze.

Result: ROU, LTU, ITA, GRE, SUI, GBR

Final A: Women’s Double Scull (W2x)

It was the Greek pairing that was the fastest off the blocks, but the Germans, at rate 40, weren’t going to let them escape. It was Kazlauskaite and Rimkute of Lithuania that were first past the 500m marker, but there was no clear water to be seen anywhere within the field. It was nip-and-tuck between Greece and Lithuania moving into the second half of the race but we were expecting a strong sprint from Kontou and Anastasiadou. But the neutral athletes were also making a move in the final 500m – it was all starting to close up! The sprint by Klimovich and Furman (AIN) couldn’t be matched as they charged into gold-medal position, with Greece taking silver and Lithuania bronze.

Result: AIN, GRE, LTU, SUI, GBR, GER

Final A: Men’s Double Scull (M2x)

All eyes were arguably on Croatia’s Sinkovic brothers in this, but what could Spain or Serbia do? It was actually Mackovic and Pimenov leading at 500m, and they further extended that lead at halfway, ahead of Spain and then Romania in bronze medal position. What kind of sprint might the Croatian’s have? Into the final 500m, here come the Sinkovics! There was no catching Serbia, though, despite a huge sprint from Spain. Martin and Valent had done enough yet again – it was a brilliant bronze for Croatia!

Result: SRB, ESP, CRO, ROU, ITA, CZE

Final: PR3 Mixed Coxed Four (PR3 Mix 4+)

Could anyone catch the reigning Paralympic Champions from Great Britain? It was a great start for the home crew, Italy, and they held on to the lead through the first timing marker at 500m. It was the most pressure we have seen Great Britain under in this event for some time, but perhaps the Italians had gone hard a little too early – the British started to work their way through approaching the halfway marker. There was then clear water back to France, sitting in bronze medal position. GB were able to shake off the Italians and opened up clear water across the line.

Result: GBR, ITA, FRA, GER

Final: Women’s Four (W4-) 

It was another flying start from Italy, trying to stamp their authority on the race but they soon had Romania and Great Britain knocking on their door. As the race started to unfold, Italy looked to be slipping out of the medal zone as Great Britain established the lead narrowly ahead of Romania and Germany. The Brits continued to move away but for the remainder of the medals, it really closed up and, in the very closing stages, AIN stole the bronze – huge disappointment for Romania who missed out on the podium.

Result: GBR, GER, AIN, ROU, ITA, DEN

Final A: Men’s Four (M4-) 

Great Britain were leading the pack through 500m, ahead of Romania and Germany. It was a development crew from Great Britain, rather than the crew we will see at the World Rowing Championships later this month, but you couldn’t tell – as they started to open up clear water. The sprint to the line was impressive and GB had to hold off Romania, but that sprint enabled them to set a new European Championships Best Time – not bad for a development crew!

Result: GBR, ROU, GER, LTU, UKR, ITA

Final A: Women’s Quadruple Quad (W4x) 

Romania led out off the start, in lane 6, but it was a tightly packed field. The last time Romania had won this event at the European Championships was back in 2012, here in Varese! Germany and Switzerland were the other 2 crews in the medal zone, but GB were also staying in touch. The top three crews remained unchanged; the reigning Olympic champions in this boat class were going to miss out on the podium. It was an incredible final sprint from Switzerland to move from third to cross the line first and become European Champions!

Result: SUI, GER, ROU, GBR, POL, GRE

Final A: Men’s Quadruple Quad (M4x) 

Germany took the early lead ahead of Poland with Czechia in third, although Poland were ahead of Germany at the first timing marker, by narrowest of margins. Croatia, featuring the infamous Damir Martin sat in bronze medal position at 500m although then dropped back to fifth at halfway. It all closed up in the final stages, but Germany had held on to the lead, Poland took the silver and it was yet another medal for Damir Martin and his Croatian crewmates.

Result: GER, POL, CRO, ROU, CZE, NED

Final: Lightweight Men’s Double Scull (LM2x)

Three boats racing for just two medals, so it was all to play for. In the early stages, it was looking ever-so-likely that the home nation would be on the podium, but Azerbaijan were keeping them under pressure every stroke. They shook off the challenge though and there was delight from the home crowds as Tito Christoforakis and Giovanni Borgonovo crossed the line first to be crowned European Champions.

Result: ITA, AZE, MDA

Final: Lightweight Women’s Double Scull (LW2x)

Could the Italian women match the men’s result? It was certainly looking good in the opening stages of the race, although the Greeks were hot on their heels. It looked certain were going to hear the Italian National Anthem for the second consecutive time whilst Greek looked set for the silver with Ukraine slightly off the pace.

Result: ITA, GRE, UKR

Final: Lightweight Men’s Pair (LM2-)

It was Georgia Vs Germany out at the front of the field – with less than a length between them as the race approached halfway. There was a little bit of clear water back to the Republic of Moldova. There was nothing between the front two crews as they raced for gold. In the closing stages, Georgia just didn’t have enough to match the speed of Germany as Patrick Erdmann and Johannes Ursprung claimed the final medal of the day.

Result: GER, GEO, MDA

More to come tomorrow!

There are still 11 sets of medals to be awarded tomorrow on the final day of the 2026 European Rowing Championships here in Varese, Italy.