Daily digest: 2026 World Rowing Championships off to blustery start

The Bosbaan produced a day of good racing in a stiff, challenging headwind to get the 2026 World Rowing Championships off to a promising start on Monday. Times were slow, but the racing was still close as crews fought for key progression places into the next rounds.

Lightweight singles start off the racing

The championships opened with a controlled win for Dutchwoman Femke van de Vliet in the heats of the lightweight women’s single sculls despite a small crab out of the blocks. After a storming start for Singaporean veteran Joan Poh, van de Vliet cruised through in the middle of the race to claim the first place in the semifinals. Also winning their heats were 2025 bronze medallist Kenia Lechuga (MEX) and European champion Mariia Zhovner (AIN1). The event was also notable as the debut for Syria at a World Rowing Championships. Sukaina Atal, a newcomer to the sport, was however eliminated from the regatta after finishing 13th and last.

Reigning champion Felipe Kluver (URU) progressed safely to the semifinals of the lightweight men’s single sculls, but Alexis Lopez (MEX) posted the quickest time in the slow conditions.

Romania’s pairs set the standard

The two Romanian pairs were the quickest of the women’s and men’s events, respectively. Adriana Adam and Simona Radis looked comfortable winning their heat of the women’s pairs, with the USA and Chile taking victories in the other two heats. Stefan Berariu and Florin Lehaci won heat 1 of the men’s pairs for Romania; Matteo Lodo and Giovanni Codato posted a slightly slower time to take heat 3. Defending champions New Zealand were the third-fastest crew, winning heat 2, and Spain claimed the win in heat 4.

Day ends with doubles delight

The men’s double sculls were racing for places in the quarterfinals and the competition was fierce. 2014 world champions Martin and Valent Sinkovic (CRO) made a statement with the fastest time of the event, but were pushed hard into the finish by France as the French held off Germany for the second automatic qualifying spot. Less pressured, and so slower overall, were the Dutch duo of Melvin Twellaar and Simon van Dorp. The other heat winners were Romania, Great Britain, and European champions and 2025 world silver medallists Serbia.

Close racing also helped Lithuania to the fastest time in the women’s double sculls, as they also beat France and Germany to top spot in their heat. Great Britain, the Netherlands and Ireland took the other heat wins, but the field is fairly close in terms of time. Ukraine were lucky to progress as second in heat 1 behind Ireland, while Greece missed out after fading badly in the last 500m of their race.