Road to Amsterdam: A Look Back at the 2026 International Season

The road to the 2026 World Rowing Championships has featured three World Rowing Cups, the European Rowing Championships, and a host of emerging storylines across the senior and para-rowing fields. From established Olympic champions to breakthrough crews and new mixed events, the international season has provided plenty of clues about what to expect when the world’s best arrive at the Bosbaan in Amsterdam.

The 2026 World Rowing Cup series returned to three regattas after two events in 2025, with racing in Seville, Plovdiv and Lucerne. The progression system introduced last year, which removed repechages, continued this season, putting greater importance on the heats and adding further intensity from the opening stages of competition.

Women’s single sculls

The women’s single sculls has again been one of the standout events of the season. Great Britain’s Lauren Henry continued her rapid rise, winning World Rowing Cup I in Seville and World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne. Ireland’s Fiona Murtagh, Lithuania’s Viktorija Senkute and Serbia’s Jovana Arsic have also featured strongly, while Olympic champion Karolien Florijn of the Netherlands returned to international racing after taking a break from competition in 2025.

With several of the leading contenders arriving in Amsterdam in strong form, the women’s single sculls promises to be one of the closely watched events at the World Championships.

Zeidler sets the standard in the men’s single

Germany’s Oliver Zeidler has set the benchmark in the men’s single sculls. The Olympic champion won in Seville and Lucerne, with AIN’s Olympic silver medallist Yauheni Zalaty finishing second on both occasions.

The event has also seen a breakthrough from the United States’ Sam Melvin, who claimed medals at World Rowing Cup II in Plovdiv and World Rowing Cup III in Lucerne, adding another name to an increasingly competitive field.

Sinkovic brothers return to the double

Croatia’s Martin and Valent Sinkovic returned to the men’s double sculls this season after racing in the four in 2025. Their return has added further intrigue to an event that has also seen Belgium’s Aaron Andries and Tibo Vyvey emerge as serious contenders, with the Belgian crew already claiming two World Cup medals this season.

Eight battles set for Amsterdam

The eights have provided plenty of movement throughout the season. Reigning world champions the Netherlands claimed two World Cup victories, while Great Britain pushed them to just 0.24 seconds in the final at World Cup III. Australia took bronze in Lucerne, setting up another highly competitive battle in Amsterdam.

The women’s eight has been even less predictable. Australia won at World Cup I, Romania took gold at World Cup II and Great Britain claimed victory at World Cup III. With combinations continuing to evolve, the race for the world title is wide open.

Strong contenders in the fours

The women’s four has largely belonged to the United States this season, with the crew consistently challenging at the front of the field. Australia and Great Britain have remained close behind, setting up another three-way battle for the World Championships.

Great Britain’s men’s four has been more dominant, winning in both Seville and Lucerne and establishing itself as one of the crews to beat in Amsterdam.

Para-rowing rivalry takes centre stage

Para-rowing also produced a major storyline at World Cup III, when Great Britain’s Benjamin Pritchard and Australia’s Erik Horrie finally met in the PR1 men’s single sculls after following separate international schedules earlier in the season. Pritchard took the victory in Lucerne, adding another chapter to a rivalry that will be closely followed in Amsterdam.

New mixed events add another dimension

The newly introduced mixed double sculls and mixed eight have brought a fresh dimension to the international programme. With crews and combinations continuing to develop throughout the season, both events remain wide open heading into the World Championships.

World Cup standings

The 2026 World Rowing Cup series concluded with the United States topping the overall points table, followed by Great Britain and the Netherlands.

The European Rowing Championships in Varese, Italy, provided one final major championship opportunity for Europe’s leading crews to test themselves before Amsterdam. Several nations used the regatta to finalise combinations, while others arrived with established crews, providing an important final benchmark ahead of the World Championships.

Now, with the international season complete, the focus turns to Amsterdam. The form shown across Seville, Plovdiv, Lucerne and Varese has provided plenty of indicators — but the ultimate test awaits at the Bosbaan, where world titles will be decided.