Debuts and Defending Champions in Varese

After adverse weather forced a delayed and condensed finals programme, the 2026 European Rowing Championships in Varese concluded with a thrilling day of racing as European titles were decided across 11 events. Romania dominated the closing session with victories in the men’s eight, women’s eight and the debut mixed eight, while Great Britain’s Lauren Henry, Germany’s Oliver Zeidler and Ukraine’s Anna Sheremet successfully defended their continental crowns. The championships also marked the European Championship debuts of the mixed double sculls and mixed eight, bringing the event to an exciting close.

Final A: PR1 Men’s Single Sculls (PR1 M1x)

It was a blistering start from the reigning Paralympic Champion Benjamin Pritchard as he looked to get out in front, but Italy’s Perini was keeping him under pressure, and by 500m in, the Italian had taken a small lead. Pritchard then re-took the lead, and Ukraine’s Polianskyi had also moved up towards the front of the pack, alongside France’s Alexis Sanchez. It became a race of the 3 Ps; Pritchard, Perini and Polianskyi out the front of the field – Pritchard having to respond to every attack from Perini.

Result: GBR, ITA, UKR, ISR, GER, FRA

Final: PR1 Women’s Single Sculls (PR1 W1x)

With a condensed racing programme, the PR1 women’s single sculls came hot on the heels of the men’s race. Ukraine’s Anna Sheremet took the early lead and sat ahead of the Dutch sculler Eva Mol. The top three were well ahead of the chasing pack as the race came into the closing stages and whilst Sheremet was looking comfortable for gold, the silver was still undecided. Sheremet retained her title of European Champion whilst Mol held off the charge from Switzerland’s Ghiringhelli.

Result: UKR, NED, SUI, SWE, CZE, POL

Final: Men’s Eight (M8+)

Germany went out with intent, but Romania were on the charge and were just 0.08 seconds behind at halfway with the Italians sitting in bronze medal position. Into the final quarter, Romania nudged into the lead. Did the German men’s eight have anything to do to respond? The field really closed up in the sprint to the line and the noise from the Italian supporters was immense! Germany just couldn’t match the sprint of Romania but it was a brilliant bronze for the host nation.

Result: ROU, GER, ITA, AIN, POL, UKR

Final: Women’s Eight (W8+)

Romania had set the new European Best Time in the preliminary race so it was going to be exciting to see what they could do in the final, with a slight tail wind. They got the early lead, with Great Britain and Italy chasing hard. Just one crew would miss out on a medal in this one. Romania had established a length’s lead in the second quarter of the race. As Romania continued to lead, the race was still on for silver with Great Britain trying to shake off Italy. Nobody could catch Romania, they were to be crowned European Champions. The 2nd gold of the Championships for Simona Radis and Adriana Adam.

Result: ROU, GBR, ITA, GER

Final: Lightweight Women’s Single Sculls (LW1x)

Greece’s Gavriela Liolio may not have been one of the fastest qualifiers, but did get out ahead first in the final, and crossed the 500m marker out in front. Positions kept changing in this one – they were all within striking distance of the podium in the final quarter of the race, but being led out by Maria Zhovner (AIN2). Liolio’s early lead hadn’t worked as she was clinging on to bronze in the closing stages with Tosca Ketler of the Netherlands having worked her way through the field to take the silver.

Result: AIN2, NED, GRE, AIN1, GER, SVK

Final A: Lightweight Men’s Single Sculls (LM1x)

Germany’s Fabio Kress got the early lead, but then the Greek sculler, Petros Gkaidatzis moved into gold medal position. There was absolutely no catching the Greek man as he led for the remainder of the race, Kress would take silver with bronze going to Igor Khmara of Ukraine.

Result: GRE, GER, UKR, AUT, ITA, GBR

Final A: Women’s Single Sculls (W1x)

The Swiss sculler, Janzen, flew out of the blocks and established nearly half a length lead ahead of the remainder of the field. Lithuania’s Viktorija Senkute then made her move and crossed the line ahead of Janzen with Great Britain’s Lauren Henry in bronze medal position. However, into the second quarter, Serbia’s Jovana Arsic made a move and overhauled Henry and Janzen to sit in second place. It was all to play for. Into the third quarter, Henry made a decisive move and took the lead, and looked set to defend her title as European Champion. Nobody could catch her.

Result: GBR, LTU, SRB, UKR, BEL, SUI

Final A: Men’s Single Sculls (M1x)

This was a much-anticipated final with a stacked field. Positions were chopping and changing with every single stroke, but German’s Oliver Zeidler was looking fairly dominant out in front. With 500m to go, Zeidler continued to open up more of a lead with Grece’s Ntoukous sitting in silver medal position ahead of Zalaty (AIN). The chasing pack really closed up in the final stages. Nobody was going to catch Zeidler, but with Zalaty taking silver, the reigning World Champion Stefanos Ntouskos just managed to hold off an attack from Romania’s Mihai Chiruta.

Result: GER, AIN, GRE, ROU, BEL, SUI

Final: PR3 Mixed Double Sculls (PR3 Mix2x)

Four crews were racing for three medals in this one, so it was a race not to be last. There was just 0.3 seconds separating Ukraine and Germany at 500m with Italy in the dangerous fourth place. Germany started to open up a slight lead over Ukraine in the second quarter of the race and then continued to extend their lead. Whilst Ukraine looked set for silver, Ukraine was comfortable for the silver and was unfortunately the host nation that would be the only boat to miss out on a medal in this boat class.

Result: GER, UKR, AIN, ITA

Final A: Mixed Double Sculls (Mix2x)

It was the first appearance of this boat class at a European Rowing event and having raced their heats earlier in the day, it was going to be interesting to see how the final unfolded. Romania had won their heat and established an early lead in the final – the duo coming from the men’s double and the women’s quad. The Italian’s looked like they might cause an upset in the closing stages with a huge sprint – could the supporters lift them? Germany was putting Romania under pressure also – they were really having to respond. Meanwhile, Italy’s Sophie Souwer had picked up two medals within ninety minutes, with Ukraine devastated to be missing out on the line.

Result: ROU, GER, ITA, UKR, NED, FIN

Final: Mixed Eight (Mix8+)

Another debut event at the European Championships and with four entries, just one would miss out on a medal. Through 500m, Germany were looking to seek revenge on the mixed double result and were leading the field, but the Romanian crew was chasing hard. Romania took the lead in the second quarter – could they win all eights races here in Varese? Romania were looking set for gold with Germany in silver medal position, and it was looking like it would be the home crew missing out on a medal. Romania added to their huge haul of gold medals.

Result: ROU, GER, DEN, ITA