World best times tumble in blistering final day on the Bosbaan

The 2026 World Rowing Championships came to an end on Sunday with several world best times falling, a photofinish for gold in the men’s eights, and a thrilling finale with the mixed eights.

Dutch defend in blistering world best

The men’s eight final brought absolute fireworks to the Bosbaan. Germany’s fast start was soon countered by the Dutch, chased by the USA and Australia, with Great Britain working to find their rhythm and speed. Only two seconds split the top five crews at 1500m, with Italy out of the picture and Australia and Great Britain level. But in the final 500m the British absolutely charged, gaining on the Dutch with every stroke. Roared by the crowd, the Netherlands responded – and defended their world title in a world best time of 5:17.75, 0.06 seconds ahead of the British. Australia won bronze, also under the previous world best.

Results: NED, GBR, AUS, GER, USA, ITA

Pieter van Veen (NED) said: “This is amazing, incredible. It means so much. I can’t believe it.”

Romania back on top in women’s eights

Romania made no mistakes in the women’s eights final, storming out of the start to establish a lead of over 1.5 seconds by 500m that was, eventually, untouchable, although Great Britain closed the gap in the closing sprint. With Simona Radis and Adriana Adam taking their second title of the week, Romania equalled the USA with 11 gold medals in the women’s eight in history and established an official world best time of 5:51.88. Great Britain paced their race well, moving into second place in the third quarter and defending that position for their best result in history in this event. The USA took bronze, their 25th women’s eights podium.

Results: ROU, GBR, USA, NED, CAN, NZL

Maria Lehaci (ROU) said: “Honestly, I don’t know what to say about it, just that it was our best race. I think that we did everything to this win, and I’m really proud of this team.”

No mistakes for Henry this time

After her nailbitingly close silver medal in Shanghai last year, Lauren Henry (GBR) spent her season working to become the first British woman to win the world single sculls title. And that paid off, with a tactically superb race. Karolien Florijn (NED) and Aurelia-Maxima Janzen (SUI) shot out of the blocks and while Janzen slipped back, Florijn kept her lead for the first kilometre of the race. Henry steadily gained ground, and took the lead at 1200m. From there on gold was secured. Meanwhile Murtagh worked her way through the field into third place at 1500m and took advantage of Florijn’s fatigue to win silver, with the Olympic champion taking bronze.

Results: GBR, IRL, NED, SUI, LTU, SRB

Henry said: “I felt so nervous, and I was still able to produce my best, and that’s what being at this level is about. I’m just really proud of how I stayed in my bubble and executed my race. It was really really good.”

Zeidler wins gold number four

Oliver Zeidler (GER) rowed a perfect race to reclaim his world title, after finishing second in Shanghai last year. Fast out of the start, the Olympic champion took a length on the field by 500m and extended that down the course. He came under some pressure from Yauheni Zalaty (AIN2) in the closing quarter, but was able to respond and win by clear water, with Zalaty upgrading to silver from last year’s bronze medal. Behind them, there was a great race for bronze between Jonas Slettemark Juel (NOR) and the slow-starting Sam Melvin (USA). Melvin was four seconds down on the third-placed Norwegian at 500m, but only 0.6 seconds back at 1500m, and Juel hung on to win bronze in a photofinish by 0.11 seconds – fittingly on a day when the life of his predecessor on the men’s single sculls podium, Olaf Tufte, was celebrated.

Results: GER, AIN2, NOR, USA, FRA, URU

Zeidler said: “It was a tough year, a lot of decisions had to be made – tough decisions – and apparently most of them turned out to be good decisions. I’m happy that I’m so dominant, that I’m back in shape, after the gap year last year.”

Van Dorp and de Jong delight home crowd

Defending mixed double sculls champions Ireland were the fastest out of the start in the mixed double sculls, but Roos de Jong and Simon van Dorp (NED) soon took the lead and held it comfortably to the finish of the race, winning in a huge world best time of 6:15.80. Konan Pazzaia and Margaret Cremen (IRL) then found themselves in a battle for bronze with Sophia Vitas and Cedar Cunningham (USA). And it was the Irish sprint which took them through for the win, 0.41 seconds ahead of the USA.

Results: NED, IRL, USA, SUI, ESP, GER

Van Dorp said: “6:15 is a crazy time, I did not think that was possible this morning. A really fast second 1000 I think; we figured why not keep sending it in front of a home crowd. Really cool.”

Radis and Adam make history as Romania defend mixed eights

Nobody has ever won three gold medals before at a single World Rowing Championships. Romania leave Amsterdam with three gold medals as a nation, and Simona Radis and Adriana Adam had a hand in each of them. Just over an hour after their win in the women’s eight, Radis and Adam led the Romanian charge to defend their mixed eights title. None of the other boats could get close to Romania. But there was an epic tussle for silver between the USA and the Netherlands, with the Dutch surging back from 1.5 seconds down at 1500m to claim silver by 0.19 seconds on the line.

Results: ROU, NED, USA, FRA, GER, SUI

Radis said: “It was really crazy, and it wasn’t easy, it was pretty hard. I’m glad we managed everything and we did this together. Four strong guys and me and the girls a bit tired, but not too much.”