The first medals of the 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships were awarded after fast and furious racing in warm conditions on the lake in Racice, Czech Republic.

Women’s coxed four (BW4+) – Final

With just six entries, the crews had contested a preliminary race earlier in the Championships. In the final, it was Germany that was the fastest out of the blocks and they were starting to break away by 250m. It was then very close between Romania and Italy for second place. In the second quarter, Romania started to pick up the pressure and Italy was also moving up on Germany. The German advantage was really being eaten up in the third quarter of the race and approaching 1,500m, Romania moved into the lead. In the final 250m, Romania started to move away and extend their lead with Germany just holding off a final challenge from Italy.

Results: ROU, GER, ITA, CZE, USA, UKR

Men’s coxed four (BM4+) – Final

The men’s coxed four also had six entries so had previously had just a preliminary race. Ireland shot off the start about 48 strokes per minute but then Germany briefly took control before the USA came through. Ireland moved on well in the second quarter and moved in on the USA but Italy had made a bigger impression and took the lead at the 750 mark. Italy was using their higher stroke rate of 40 strokes per minute to their advantage and held the lead at 1,000m with Ireland in second. Into the last 500m, the places remained unchanged with Ireland having opened up clear water over the USA. The powerful looking Italian crew crossed the line first, comfortably ahead of the pack.

Results: ITA, IRL, USA, GER, NED, FRA

Filippo Wiesenfeld, Men’s Coxed Four, Italy, Gold: “After the preliminary race, we were not happy with our performance. We changed positions in the boat and did what we wanted to do. We started at the 1000m mark and never looked back. We’re so happy with the gold medal. ”

James Catalano, Men’s Coxed Four, USA, Bronze: “We had a really fast start, but Italy and Ireland definitely had the better middle piece, so that’s the way how it went. I am really really proud of my guys.”

Lightweight women’s pair (BLW2-) – Final

The Italians flew off the start and established an early lead. Germany, who had also come directly from the heat, also had a quick start, but the American pair was keeping Germany under pressure. The wind had switched to a slight tailwind which assisted the lightweight rowers and Italy had established a lead of a length by the first timing point, ahead of the USA. By halfway, the Italians had clear water ahead of the rest of the field with the USA still holding on to second place. Germany was doing everything they could to overhaul the USA with 0.2 seconds between them at the 1,500m marker. Italy continued to be unstoppable and Germany eventually broke through USA in the final quarter of the race to take silver.

Results: ITA, GER, USA ,TUR, PER, UKR

Maria Zerboni, Lightweight Women’s Pair, Italy, Gold: “We’re so happy, this is our first international experience. We managed the race pretty well. So delighted, thank you to our coaches, families, we really wanted to celebrate with them”

Maria Zerboni (b), Samantha Premerl (s), Lightweight Women’s Pair, Italy, Gold, 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships, Racice, Czech Republic / Detlev Seyb/MyRowingPhoto.com

Lightweight men’s pair (BLM2-) – Final

Italy had the fastest start but Chile was just 0.40 seconds behind by 500m into the race with Uzbekistan holding third place. The positions remained unchanged at 1,000m. The Chileans were really starting to threaten Italy in the third quarter of the race with clear water back to the rest of the field including a fight for bronze between Uzbekistan and the USA. The gap was really closing at 1,500m with Italy only 0.42 seconds ahead of Chile. In the final 100m, Chile had just a bit more in the tank than Italy and broke the gold streak for the Italian team. Meanwhile, Uzbekistan held off a threat from the USA.

Results: CHI, ITA, UZB, USA, GER, HUN

Roberto Liewald, Lightweight Men’s Pair, Chile, Gold : “This is a dream coming true. The race plan was to stay with the other boats, but Italy overtook us. We managed to get back in the lead at the 1500m. We have been training in Spain, so it was easy to come here, but we never though we could come home with a gold medal.”

Women’s pair (BW2-) – Final

The Jurkovic twins came in to the race as favourites on the back of a successful World Cup season and they were looking really strong in the early stages of the race. France held second position at the 500m marker with Canada in third place. The USA were moving on really strongly and approaching the halfway point, they had got ahead of Canada and were putting pressure on France. The Croatians continued to command the race and had a clear water advantage over the USA at 1,500m with France in third. France seemed to run out of energy the closing stages allowing Germany to move through and take the bronze.

Results: CRO, USA, GER, CAN, FRA, ESP

Ivana Jurkovic, Women’s Pair, Croatia, Gold: “Winning the gold medal was the dream since we started rowing together. The bond between us is something that can’t be explained. In Croatia, the Pair is a brothers’ and sisters’ story, that’s our best kept secret!”

Ivana Jurkovic (b), Josipa Jurkovic (s), Women’s Pair, Croatia, Gold, 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Championships, Racice, Czech Republic / Detlev Seyb/MyRowingPhoto.com

Men’s pair (BM2-) – Final

Turkey were the early leaders and had a canvas advantage over Great Britain by 500m into the race but the Brits put on a push at the timing point and moved into the lead. With the fastest time from the semifinal, Great Britain continued to look strong and had half a length advantage over Turkey by 1,000m. Lithuania was starting to charge and Romania also maintaining contact. With Great Britain continuing to lead, the battle for silver was fierce in the final stages of the race. Lithuania had more to give than Turkey and crossed the line second to take the silver.

Results: GBR, LTU, TUR, CRO, ROU, GRE

Calvin Tarczy, Men’s Pair, Great Britain, Gold: “It was a good race. Conditions this week have been interesting, but they have been very similar to what we have been training in. We didn’t have the best start but got into the mid race pace and then we’re able to hammer home for the line.”

Lightweight women’s quadruple sculls (BLW4x-) – Final

With just three crews racing, there was only two medals up for grabs and it was the crew from Italy which came in as hot favourites following the preliminary race. Italy took the early lead and although the USA got the better of Germany off the start, Germany came through in the second quarter and the places then remained unchanged to the line with Italy being crowned champions.

Results: ITA, GER, USA

Natalie Weber, Lightweight Women’s Quadruple Sculls, Germany, Silver: “Despite the small number of entries, the Lightweight Women’s Quad is always an intense race. The goal was to stick to the Italians as long as possible and I think we did a good job.“

Lightweight men’s quadruple sculls (BLM4x-) – Final

There was mirror flat water with a slight tail breeze as the penultimate race moved off the start. Germany was the first to get ahead off the start and France was also looking strong with Italy close behind. Germany, still up at 38 strokes per minute into the second quarter of the race, was looking really strong and with France in second, Italy was starting to be dropped slightly. With Germany continuing to dominate, there was a fierce contest between France and Italy. Italy briefly came into second place at the 1,500m marker, but then France had just enough left to reclaim the silver medal position.

Results: GER, FRA, ITA, ESP, TUR, USA

Women’s quadruple sculls (BW4x-) – Final

The last final of the day did not disappoint as six quads blasted off the start. Although Switzerland came into the race as fastest qualifier, they found themselves just a fraction behind Germany in the early stages of the race. Switzerland was just 0.3 seconds behind Germany at the first timing point with Italy also maintaining contact. By 750m into the race, Switzerland had edged their bows into the lead with Italy still well in touch. The Czech Republic was also still in contention for a medal position at the 1,000 marker. Into the third quarter of the race, Switzerland had established half a length lead. Italy had edged in front of Germany and were starting to move on Switzerland. With Switzerland maintaining the lead, it was all to play for in silver medal position with Germany just getting the better of Italy across the line.

Results: SUI, GER, ITA, CZE, RUS, ROU

Salome Ulrich, Women’s Quadruple Sculls, Switzerland, Gold: “Great race, amazing rhythm, very efficient, and perfectly timed. We had tremendous trust in each other and everything worked out in the end. Racice is golden.”

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Going for a top three place in semis at World Rowing Under 23 Championships

First 2021 World Rowing Under 23 Champions crowned in Racice

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