Plovdiv to host 2027 World Rowing Under 19 and Under 23 Championships, 50 years after Bulgaria's Olympic rowing pioneers

As the nine Bulgarian Olympic rowing medallists from Montreal 1976 gathered at the Nations Dinner in Plovdiv on Saturday evening, World Rowing and the Plovdiv Rowing Organizing Committee honoured the pioneers who transformed women’s rowing—and announced that the next generation of the sport’s stars will return to Bulgaria in 2027.

PLOVDIV, Bulgaria – Fifty years after Bulgarian women’s rowing made Olympic history, the country is set to add another chapter to its rich rowing story.

At the Nations Dinner during the 2026 World Rowing Under 19 Championships, World Rowing announced that Plovdiv, Bulgaria, will host both the 2027 World Rowing Under 19 and Under 23 Championships. This brings the next generation of rowing talent back to one of the sport’s most well-known venues.

The announcement comes as World Rowing, Plovdiv Rowing OC and the Bulgarian Rowing Federation celebrate the women who changed Bulgarian rowing at the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. That year, women competed in Olympic rowing for the first time, and Bulgaria made its mark by winning two gold medals and one silver, establishing itself as a rising power in the sport.

One of those pioneers was Svetla Otsetova, who teamed up with Zdravka Yordanova in the women’s double sculls. They took an early lead in the first 1,000 metres, rowing into a headwind, and held off their competitors to become Olympic champions.

Minutes later, Stoyanka Gruycheva and Siyka Kelbecheva won Olympic gold in women’s pair. Meanwhile, Ginka Gyurova, Lilyana Vaseva, Reni Yordanova, Maria Modeva and Kapka Panayotova earned silver medals in the coxed four.

But Svetla Otsetova and Zdravka Yordanova have gone down in history forever, because they won Bulgaria’s first Olympic medal in rowing. A gold one!

Fifty years on, Otsetova’s legacy goes far beyond the medals she earned on the water.

Purpose-Built | Plovdiv Rowing Canal

As a leading architect and venue consultant in rowing, she worked with architect Valentine Marinov to help design the Plovdiv Rowing Canal, which is now considered one of the world’s top international rowing venues. In her second career, Otsetova has helped plan and develop Olympic rowing courses from Barcelona 1992 to Los Angeles 2028, shaping about 60 Olympic and World Rowing venues worldwide.

Plovdiv Provides Welcome Return for the 2027 Competition Season

World Rowing President Jean-Christophe Rolland welcomed a 2027 return to Plovdiv, saying:

“It is particularly meaningful to announce this event during a celebration of the women whose achievements helped define Bulgarian rowing. Their success inspired generations of athletes, and today their legacy lives on through a venue that continues to welcome the world’s best rowers.

“Plovdiv has consistently demonstrated its ability to organise world-class international regattas. Athletes know they will race on one of the fairest and best-prepared courses in the world, while teams and spectators experience an event delivered to the highest standard.

“Bringing together the Under 19 and Under 23 Championships creates a unique celebration of rowing’s future. More than 1,000 athletes from over 60 nations will come to Plovdiv next summer, and many of them will one day become Olympic and World Champions.”

Plovdiv Rowing organizing committee chairman Ivan Popov also hailed the news.

“Today is a proud moment for Bulgarian rowing. As we honour the athletes who helped establish our country’s place in Olympic rowing history, we are equally proud to look ahead and welcome the next generation of champions.

“Plovdiv has become a home for international rowing, and we are honoured by the confidence World Rowing has placed in our team – organisers, volunteers and the whole rowing community. Thank you World Rowing! You are always at home in Bulgaria, especially in Plovdiv. We are grateful to the state and the Municipality of Plovdiv for their support, enabling us to provide the best possible conditions for the global rowing family. We look forward to welcoming the world back to Bulgaria in 2027.”

Competition Dates and Anticipated Participation Numbers

The championships will take place over two overlapping five-day regattas. The 2027 World Rowing Under 19 Championships will run from 27 to 31 July 2027, followed by the Under 23 Championships from 28 July to 1 August 2027.

More than 1,000 athletes from over 60 countries are expected to compete in the two championships.

The venue reflects decades of expertise. The Plovdiv Rowing Canal is 2,300 metres long and was built to ensure fair racing. Surrounded by natural forest and aligned east to west with the prevailing winds, the course offers balanced conditions in every lane. It is now one of the most trusted venues in international rowing.

Plovdiv’s Hosting History in International Rowing Regattas

Hosting the joint championships will add to Plovdiv’s strong history of major international rowing events. By 2027, the city will have hosted 12 World Rowing regattas, including:

• Two World Rowing Championships (2012, 2018)
• Two World Rowing Cups (2019, 2026)
• Three World Rowing Under 23 Championships (2015, 2017, 2023)
• Three World Rowing Under 19 Championships (1999, 2021, 2026)
• Two European Rowing Championships (2011, 2025)

Fifty years after Bulgarian women helped start a new era in Olympic rowing, Plovdiv will again welcome the sport’s future. The city will provide the stage for the next generation of rowing champions to begin their own stories.