The first semifinals of the 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships brought some surprises, with several crews improving from their heats to bump those who had impressed earlier in the week out of medal contention.

The stage is now set for the first finals on Saturday, where new world under 23 champions will be crowned.

Andries sets pace in men’s single sculls quarterfinals

Belgium’s Aaron Andries came out the quickest in the men’s single sculls quarterfinals, after rowing through German Olivier Holtz in the closing stage of their race. But little split the two, and Turkish sculler Cevdet Ege Mutlu won quarterfinal 1 more comfortably in a similar time. Portugal’s Diogo Goncalves took the win in quarterfinal 2, while Marco Selva (Italy) won quarterfinal 3, ahead of 2024 silver medallist Erik Kallstrom of Sweden. Saturday’s semifinals look like they will be just as exciting.

Nothing to choose between men’s pairs finalists

Less than five seconds split the six men’s pairs finalists on time, after two incredible semifinals which saw Australia, the second-fastest crew in the heats, pushed out of medal contention. In semifinal 1, Great Britain’s Marcus Chute and Theodore Bell vastly improved on their heat performance to challenge for the win. While Swiss pair Seric Critchley and Nicolas Chambers eventually prevailed, the British took second from lane 6, only 0.49 seconds down on Switzerland, with Greece third. In semifinal 2, there were four boats abreast across the line. Türkiye’s Aytimur Selcuk and Enes Biber claimed first, followed by Germany and Norway, with Italy missing out – 0.41 seconds behind Norway, and just over a second down on the Turks.

Poles in pole position

Poland’s Anna Khlibenko and Julia Rogiewicz took victory in semifinal 2 of the women’s double sculls ahead of Romania after an impressive performance, with Germany third. The Poles’ time was almost three seconds quicker than Greece’s in the first semifinal, reversing the order from the heats. Romania’s Maria-Laura Dumitru and Bianca-Carmelia Ifteni sprinted themselves into second from fourth place at 1500m, denying Italy a place in the final. In the first semifinal it was the Netherlands who impressed with third place from lane 6, closing in on second-placed France in the sprint and pushing out last year’s bronze medallist Saule Kryzeviciute (Lithuania) and her partner Gabija Stankeviciute.

Ireland keep the surprises coming

In the first men’s double sculls semifinal it was Ireland’s Martin O’Grady and Donagh Claffey who proved the surprise package, improving significantly from their heat performance to take second place behind Italy and ahead of Lithuania. Greece, the fastest crew in the heats, were off the pace from the start and could only manage fifth. France’s Hugo Roch and Martin Bauer won semifinal 2 in the fastest time of the day, after a blistering last quarter of the race which took them through from third to first. Portugal were second and Germany third.

Britain and France impress in women’s fours

Both Great Britain and France led throughout their women’s fours semifinals, with Great Britain taking their foot off the gas in the second half of the first semifinal and staying in control as the race came back to them. New Zealand were second, and Spain third. In the second semifinal Romania had the speed in the last quarter to row through the USA, but both qualified; Germany could not quite find the speed to catch the USA. Half of the French crew finished fourth in this event last year, and now have a good opportunity to improve on that result.

Thrilling men’s four final ahead

Both men’s four semifinals were close affairs. Defending champions Great Britain posted the fastest time of 5:55.16, but with semifinal 2 winners the USA finishing in 5:56.00 there is not much to choose between the crews. Australia and Spain were second and third behind the British, after Australia overtook Spain in the sprint. Romania and Germany complete the six-boat line-up for the final.

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Fast times and tight racing on day 2 in Poznan

Surprises and sprints on day 3 of the 2025 World Rowing Under 23 Championships

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