Heats complete at 2026 World Rowing Championships in Qingdao

Monday brought a busy day of racing in Qingdao, China, as the last of the 4km heats and the B-finals were raced in increasingly challenging conditions. The swell on the water rose as the tide came in, and crews fought for the best position around the various turning buoys.

China on top in women’s double sculls

Zhang Yuanyuan and Sun Luping (CHN02) had by far the best start in the heat of the coastal women’s double sculls, giving themselves a slight margin over Alessia and Valeria Palacios (PER01) at the first buoy. The Palacios twins’ experience of rowing together started to pay off on the second leg of the race, and they had closed up to overlap on the Chinese at the second buoy – before missing the turn, having to back down and finding themselves with significant ground to make up. Zhang and Sun were able to scull away to win the heat, with the Peruvians eventually coming in second ahead of Cheng Li and Chen Ke (CHN05) and Solveig Imsdahl and Emma Tierney (USA01).

The German and British boats got themselves entangled on the start; the British crew eventually came through for seventh after losing the best part of 200m initially, and could be a threat come Tuesday’s final.

Diaz and Fortier win solos heats

A fascinating contest in the first heat of the coastal men’s solo saw several crews lead at various points in the course, but it was Salvador Diaz (ESP03) who crossed the line in front ahead of Ronan Byrne (IRL03) and Kealan Mannix (IRL01). Erwin Wiltenburg (NED01), who was quickest to 1000m, was fourth. At the back of the pack Michael Hitier (FRA01) and Luca Dell’Elice (ITA04) were in a tight race for the last place in the final, with Hitier eventually taking it.

Heat 2 was led out by Alexis Fortier (FRA02), ahead of Chris Bak (USA01). While the race was tight, Fortier prevailed with a good closing stretch. Behind those two, Joel Naukkarinen (FIN01) was third, despite racing back-to-back in the mixed double sculls and solo.

Mixed doubles set up for cross-continental challenge

The coastal mixed double sculls European champions, Joel Naukkarinen and Eeva Karppinen (FIN01) won heat 1 of the event, after an early close tussle with Kory Rogers and Sera Busse (USA01). They will face off against Long Zhentao and Yang Yujiao (CHN01) in Tuesday’s final, after the Chinese won heat 2. Arthur Sanson and Marine Delanoe (FRA01) were second in heat 2. South America and Africa will also be represented in the final, thanks to solid rows from Peru and South Africa in their heats, as well as crews from Great Britain, Ireland, Spain and Japan.

Italy’s Gavirate emerge in front in race of clashes

The coastal men’s quadruple sculls heat was full of clashes as the big boats sought the best water around the turning buoys. But Italy 04 (ASD Canottieri Gavirate) emerged as the winners, taking an early advantage that kept them clear of the problems behind. They were rowing in memory of a clubmate, Lorenzo Marchetti, who passed away last week. China 02 (Team Liaoning) were second and Monaco 01 third. Team Sichuan (China 03) were excluded at the end of the race.